Compliance: Turning Obligations into Opportunities

Compliance spans a broad range of legal areas, all grounded in the same principle: when companies fully embrace compliance and recognize its positive impact on their reputation and financial performance, what may initially seem burdensome and costly can be transformed into a genuine opportunity.

At the heart of compliance lies one of its fundamental pillars: the fight against money laundering (AML) and the financing of terrorism (FT). To ensure a level playing field in the enforcement of these critical rules, it is essential that European companies can implement these standards without fearing that the associated costs—reflected in pricing—might distort competition in favor of less compliant players. Harmonisation in this field is therefore vital.

This harmonisation has taken a significant step forward with the adoption of the new AML/FT preventive and supervisory framework, finalized before the European Parliament's most recent dissolution.

A Special Focus on the New Framework

Recognizing the importance of this reform for all compliance professionals, we are dedicating this special issue to exploring its impact and implications. In addition, we provide:

• An overview of recent updates to Belgian law, including new criminal provisions;
• A review of complementary EU regulatory changes that align with the harmonised framework.

Together, this issue serves as an indispensable resource, offering a comprehensive guide to the evolving compliance landscape and equipping professionals with the tools they need to navigate these developments effectively.