Money laundering warning from EU to Portugal: Two months for transfer of four items

The European Commission initiated an infringement procedure against Portugal on the grounds that it did not fully transpose certain provisions of the new European legislation on the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing into national law in a timely manner.

Portugal is one of 18 EU countries taking part in the same process.

However, the issue should not be interpreted as "Portugal has never implemented the money laundering directive".

The Commission's latest action concerns the failure to notify the full transposition of four articles in Directive (EU) 2024/1640.

Which directive are we talking about?

The regulation in question is Directive (EU) 2024/1640, which renews the EU's framework for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

One of the important parts of the new rules is the system for accessing and using information about beneficial owners / beneficiários efetivos — beneficial owners of companies and other structures.

This information is of critical importance in the pursuit of money laundering for the police, judicial authorities, obliged entities and persons with a legitimate interest in certain circumstances.

Has Portugal ever transposed?

No.

The distinction here is important.

It is not correct to say that Portugal does not fully implement EU money laundering legislation.

The process started on 25 September, after the full transposition of four articles of the directive was not notified to the Commission.

Therefore, the correct framing of the news is not “Portugal does not implement AML legislation” but specific new EU There must be a deficiency in the transposition of its provisions.

18 countries in the same process

In addition to Portugal, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Romania and Finland are also involved in the process.

Therefore, the problem is not specific to Portugal.

Two months to Portugal

The European Commission sent a formal notice to the relevant countries.

Countries must complete the deficiencies within two months and report them to the Commission.

If a satisfactory answer is not given, the Commission may move on to the next stage, the reasoned opinion process.

At this stage, there is no EU court decision or fine given against Portugal.

Resources

Euronews Portugal — Joana Mourao Carvalho, 25 September 2026

https://pt.euronews.com/2026/09/25/portugal-entre-18-paises-sob-processo-por-falhas-na-transposicao-de-regras-contra-branquea

European Commission — Infringement procedure

https://commission.europa.eu/law/application-eu-law/implementing-eu-law/infringement-procedure_en