What did the European Union plan this time?

According to media reports, the option of including Russia on the "gray list" of countries with inadequate money laundering controls is currently being actively discussed.

What is important to understand is that it is supported by the majority of members of the European Parliament, but the adoption of this decision is still ahead.

German MEP Markus Ferber made a statement on this matter.

"There is great support for adding Russia to the list," he emphasized.

As journalists managed to find out, the announcement of the list was expected this week, but the European Commission postponed its adoption "for administrative and procedural reasons."

If Russia were to be included in such a list, it would cause reputational damage and would also force financial institutions to conduct additional checks on transactions involving individuals or organizations from the aforementioned territories, leading to increased costs.

It is worth noting that the European Union's "grey list" usually corresponds to the list compiled by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).