EBA and AMLA complete transfer of EU AML/CFT mandates
AML Agent page published: . Page updated: .
On 1 January 2026, the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA) completed the transfer of EU-level AML/CFT mandates and functions from the EBA to AMLA. The transition placed AMLA at the centre of the EU AML/CFT supervisory system, while preserving an important prudential financial-integrity role for the EBA.
The handover does not, by itself, introduce new compliance duties for obliged entities. Its immediate importance lies in institutional responsibility, regulatory continuity and the future ownership of EU AML/CFT policy. Relevant EBA guidelines and recommendations continue to apply until corresponding AMLA measures begin to apply, subject to the conditions in Article 54(5) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1620.
Key takeaways
- AMLA assumed the EBA’s EU-level standalone AML/CFT mandates and functions from the beginning of 2026.
- The transition changes institutional responsibility but does not itself create a new compliance obligation for obliged entities.
- Relevant EBA AML/CFT guidelines and recommendations remain applicable until corresponding AMLA measures begin to apply.
- AMLA now leads the development of the EU AML/CFT Single Rulebook and AML/CFT supervisory convergence.
- The EBA continues to address ML/TF risk through its prudential responsibilities, including authorisation, governance and fit-and-proper work.
- EuReCa and other EBA AML/CFT tools and expertise form part of the transition, subject to the transitional arrangements in Article 106 AMLAR.
- The ESAs–AMLA Memorandum of Understanding supports continuing cooperation, information exchange and consistent regulatory development.
What changed
Article 103 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1620 amended the EBA Regulation by removing provisions underlying the EBA’s dedicated EU-level AML/CFT mandate. Those amendments became applicable on 31 December 2025, and EBA and AMLA describe the operational handover as completed on 1 January 2026.
AMLA now leads EU AML/CFT regulatory policy, supervisory convergence and the development of relevant technical standards, guidelines and supervisory methodologies. The transition also included EBA supervisory knowledge, risk assessments and tools such as the EuReCa database. Article 106 AMLAR nevertheless permits transitional access and joint-management arrangements with the EBA until no later than 30 June 2027.
The EBA retains responsibilities where ML/TF risk intersects with prudential regulation and supervision. Cooperation between AMLA, the EBA and the other European Supervisory Authorities is supported by the multilateral Memorandum of Understanding required by Article 91 AMLAR.
Why it may matter
The transition changes which EU authority professionals should monitor for new AML/CFT rules, guidance, supervisory methodologies and policy positions. It also affects the regulatory provenance of future instruments and the channels through which supervisors coordinate and exchange information.
It does not invalidate the existing EBA AML/CFT framework. Article 54(5) AMLAR provides that relevant EBA guidelines and recommendations remain applicable until AMLA measures on the same subject begin to apply. Firms should therefore monitor replacement measures and their transition periods rather than removing existing EBA guidance from compliance frameworks solely because responsibility has moved to AMLA.
The institutional boundary also remains important: AMLA leads AML/CFT supervision and policy, while the EBA continues to consider ML/TF risk within its prudential mandate.
Who may be affected
The transition is most directly relevant to credit institutions, payment and e-money institutions, investment firms, crypto-asset service providers, relevant insurers and other financial institutions subject to EU AML/CFT supervision. It is also operationally significant for national financial supervisors and authorities that previously interacted with the EBA’s AML/CFT functions.
Compliance, legal and regulatory-affairs teams may need to update regulatory-monitoring responsibilities and authority mappings. The handover does not mean that every EBA reference in an existing policy should be replaced immediately: the applicable instrument, its legal status and any AMLA replacement or transition period should first be verified.
Practical considerations
- Maintain an inventory of EBA AML/CFT guidelines and recommendations currently reflected in policies and controls.
- Monitor AMLA publications for measures replacing EBA guidance and record the applicable transition period.
- Do not treat the institutional transfer itself as evidence that existing EBA guidance has ceased to apply.
- Update regulatory-horizon scanning so that AMLA is the principal source for future EU AML/CFT policy developments.
- Retain the EBA as a monitored authority where ML/TF risk intersects with prudential supervision, governance, authorisation or fit-and-proper assessments.
- Review references to regulatory authorities in governance documents, escalation procedures and regulatory-change inventories.
- For supervisory reporting or information exchange, verify the applicable AMLA, EBA and national-authority channel rather than assuming an immediate operational change.
- Distinguish non-binding EBA guidelines and recommendations from binding Commission delegated or implementing acts, which retain their own legal status until amended or repealed.
These considerations support professional review and do not constitute legal advice.