* EU states open to new rules to counter money laundering
* Support to give new powers to the EU against financial
crime
* Banks, gaming, real estate could face stricter controls
By Francesco Guarascio
LUXEMBOURG, Oct 10 (Reuters) - The European Union is
considering tighter rules to counter the flow of dirty money
into the region's banks and other economic sectors, EU officials
said on Thursday.
Following a spat of money-laundering scandals at several
lenders that highlighted weak oversight by national authorities,
the EU is also considering setting up a new agency or beefing up
existing EU-wide agencies.
New rules under consideration could increase controls over
sectors where risks of money laundering are high, such as
financial services, gaming and real estate, Finance Commissioner
Valdis Dombrovski.
One official said stricter rules could also hit
intermediaries, like lawyers or tax advisers. The EU has already
changed its anti-money laundering rules twice over the past five
years to keep up with emerging threats and close loopholes.
Speaking after a meeting of EU finance ministers, Dombrovski
said there was also support for plans for reducing states'
leeway in applying existing rules.
Currently, the 28 EU states have large discretion in
imposing sanctions to wrongdoers and in fighting financial
crime. This creates loopholes that criminal organisations
exploit.
As part of the overhaul, many ministers supported the
creation of a new agency at EU level that would take over
supervision powers from national authorities, officials said.
"We need to be ready to discuss some forms of EU supervisory
body. It should have an independent structure and
decision-making," Finnish Finance Minister Mika Lintila said at
the end of the meeting.
The European Central Bank and the EU parliament have called
for an EU agency against money laundering, which they believe
could better counter the flow of illicit money, estimated by the
United Nations to amount to around $2$ trillion a year globally.
Many governments have long opposed changes to the
supervision of financial crime, fearing they would lose power
and be forced to share sensitive information.
At the meeting on Thursday, some ministers cautioned against
changes. One official said Estonia, Malta and other smaller
states were among the least keen on reforms.
Last year, the Estonian branch of Danske Bank emerged as the
epicentre of the largest money-laundering scandal in the EU. Two
Maltese banks have stopped operations since last year because of
money-laundering allegations.
France, Italy, the Netherlands and Austria pushed instead
for a comprehensive reform, officials said. Germany's finance
minister, Olaf Scholz, remained silent during the ministerial
debate. Berlin has in the past opposed major reforms.
Talks among states will continue. A final decision on the
new framework is expected in December, officials said.
(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio)