Two days ago the European Commission announced it has removed Gibraltar from its list of high-risk third-country jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in anti–money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) frameworks .This update aligns with revised standards from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and recognizes Gibraltar’s significant compliance improvements.
Gibraltar was delisted alongside Barbados, Jamaica, Panama, the Philippines, Senegal, Uganda, and the United Arab Emirates.
Despite a prior delayed delisting in 2024—linked to opposition from select Spanish MEPs—this year’s vote reflects a political and regulatory shift.
- Gibraltar steps forward with bold regulatory stance under Andrew Lyman
Central to the delisting is the work of Andrew Lyman, Gibraltar’s Gambling Commissioner, whose leadership has strengthened AML measures in both financial and non-financial sectors—particularly within gaming regulation .His commitment to ongoing oversight and reforms played a key role in meeting EU standards.
Meanwhile, jurisdictions including Monaco were newly added to the EU’s high-risk list
The changes are formalized through a delegated regulation, which enters into law unless challenged by the European Parliament or Council within one month. With Gibraltar’s removal confirmed, European banks can reduce enhanced due diligence on Gibraltar-linked transactions, though vigilance continues above baseline levels.
This delisting is more than symbolic—it points to Gibraltar’s emergence as a more robust, credible financial center. With improved AML/CFT alignment, the jurisdiction boosts investor confidence and strengthens its regulatory reputation under Andrew Lyman’s leadership.
