FATF status

Malta is no longer on the FATF List of Countries that have been identified as having strategic AML deficiencies

Latest FATF Statement - 17 June 2022

The FATF welcomes Malta’s significant progress in improving its AML/CFT regime. Malta has strengthened the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime to meet the commitments in its action plan regarding the strategic deficiencies that the FATF identified in June 2021 related to the detection of inaccurate company ownership information and sanctions on gatekeepers who fail to obtain accurate beneficial ownership information, as well as the pursuit of tax-based money laundering cases utilising financial intelligence. Malta is therefore no longer subject to the FATF’s increased monitoring process.

Malta should continue to work with MONEYVAL to sustain its improvements in its AML/CFT system.

Compliance with FATF Recommendations

The last Follow-up Mutual Evaluation Report relating to the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards in Malta was undertaken in 2021. According to that Evaluation, Malta was deemed Compliant for 12 and Largely Compliant for 28 of the FATF 40 Recommendations. No review of the 11 areas of Effectiveness of Malta's AML/CFT Regime was undertaken in the Follow-up MER and, therefore, these remain assessed at being Highly Effective for 0 and Substantially Effective for 2.

Malta has established a robust legal framework to combat corruption, with effective enforcement by various agencies, including the Malta Police Force and the Attorney General’s Office. While public sector corruption is a concern, it does not significantly hinder U.S. firms operating in Malta, although issues in public procurement and connections between local elites and political figures pose challenges. Recent evaluations by GRECO and MONEYVAL have highlighted areas for improvement, prompting Malta to implement new anti-corruption measures and enhance its financial oversight.

Malta's economy, characterized by its strategic location and political stability, is primarily service-based, focusing on sectors such as shipping, banking, online gaming, and tourism. Following a robust recovery from the pandemic, the economy experienced a real GDP growth of approximately 6.1% in 2023, with forecasts of continued growth in the following years, albeit at a slower pace. The country maintains a low unemployment rate and is assessed as having a stable economic outlook by top credit rating agencies.

Malta offers a favorable investment climate characterized by its strategic location, political stability, and membership in the EU, Eurozone, and Schengen Zone. The government actively seeks foreign direct investment (FDI) and provides various incentives, particularly in high-tech manufacturing, digital technologies, and clean energy sectors. Additionally, Malta's robust economic recovery post-pandemic, with a projected GDP growth of 6.1% in 2023, further enhances its attractiveness to investors.