Media reports in Moldova seem to wrongly suggest that the Law on Voluntary Declaration and Fiscal Stimulation had been analyzed positively by an expert from the Council of Europe’s Committee on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL), IPN reports.
In a press release, the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering committee expresses its concern about misleading media reports. “Media reports in Moldova seem to wrongly suggest that the Law on Voluntary Declaration and Fiscal Stimulation, which was passed by the Moldovan Parliament on 26 July 2018, had been analyzed positively by an expert from MONEYVAL,” it is said in the press release.
MONEYVAL clarifies that it was not consulted on this law at any stage in the legislative process, nor was any international expert on behalf of MONEYVAL.
In line with its rules of procedures, MONEYVAL is responsible for analyzing all voluntary tax compliance programs adopted by its members with regard to their compliance with the applicable international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards.
IPN reminds that in connection with the criticism leveled at the Law on Voluntary Declaration and Fiscal Stimulation, particular media outlets in Chisinau reported that an expert from the Council of Europe’s Committee on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism concluded that the law poses no threat as to the legalization of money laundering.