GRC Report Staff

The world feels increasingly unpredictable these days, and for those watching Europe’s financial landscape, it’s clear that the unease is escalating. As geopolitical tensions (particularly between Europe and the United States) ripple through the global economy, the need for a more resilient financial sector has never been greater. The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) is ringing the alarm, urging both financial institutions and regulators to act now before the pressure becomes unbearable.

California and U.S. businesses should take note, bribing foreign officials is still a big no-no, even if recent headlines about the FCPA enforcement pause have you wondering otherwise.

As the deadline to implement the new EU banking regulations (CRR3) draws closer, Malta’s financial sector is largely on track. According to the latest assessment from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), most local banks are prepared for the upcoming changes, though there’s still work to be done.

The Autorité de la concurrence, France’s competition watchdog, has slapped Apple with a hefty €150 million fine. The reason? Apple’s handling of its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework, which the French authority argues unfairly tipped the scales in favor of Apple, harming smaller players in the digital ecosystem.

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has put a spotlight on the importance of continuously validating the effectiveness of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) frameworks within financial institutions (FIs). The agency’s latest publication comes with a crucial message that AML/CFT framework are only as strong as its ongoing evaluation.

The European Parliament recently voted in favor of giving businesses a little more breathing room when it comes to complying with the new sustainability and due diligence rules. With an overwhelming vote of 531 for, 69 against, and 17 abstentions, MEPs backed the European Commission's proposal to delay the deadlines for these significant regulations. The intended goal? To simplify the process for businesses and help the EU stay competitive on the global stage. It’s part of the broader “Omnibus I” simplification package, which aims to reduce the red tape businesses face while still driving progress on important issues like human rights and environmental impact.

It’s been a long time coming, but the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has finally taken a step in holding Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) accountable for its ongoing struggles with non-financial risk management. APRA has accepted a Court Enforceable Undertaking (CEU) from the bank and increased its capital add-on to $1 billion.