Blacklisting is not related to current situation in Lebanon, says EU

The European Union’s embassy in Beirut clarified Wednesday, June 11, that the European Commission’s decision to include Lebanon on its list of countries with strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counterterrorist financing efforts “is not related to the progress — or lack of progress — made by the current Lebanese government in reforms.” The embassy said the move was made in October 2024, following Lebanon’s inclusion on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) list, and “is only being formally codified today.”

On Monday, June 10, the European Commission added Lebanon — along with Algeria, Angola, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Laos, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal and Venezuela — to its so-called blacklist.

Tax attorney Karim Daher told L’Orient-Le Jour on June 10 that the announcement is unlikely to have “more negative effects for Lebanon than those already induced by its inclusion on the FATF’s ‘gray list.’” He added that the Commission’s decision “is simply an alignment with that of the FATF.”