Any Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) which considers itself to comply with the criteria of the Egmont Group of being a central, national agency responsible for receiving, (and as permitted, requesting), analysing and disseminating to the competent authorities, disclosures of financial information, is eligible to apply to become an Egmont member FIU.
There are several stages in the membership process:
An expression of interest should be submitted to the Executive Secretary of the Egmont Group Secretariat (EGS), which includes
A template for the membership request letter can be found on the Membership Application Package link (MAP link) on the Egmont Group website (www.egmontgroup.org).
The EGS will submit the expression of interest documents to the Chair of the Outreach Working Group (OWG) and the Egmont Regional Representative(s) for the geographical region in which the applicant FIU is located. They will discuss the options and identify two Sponsor FIUs, in consultation with the applicant FIU.
A Sponsor FIU's task is to guide and support the applicant FIU in its process to become an Egmont member. The Chair of the OWG will write to the applicant FIU to officially confirm the FIUs that have agreed to sponsor the FIU's Egmont Group membership process.
After confirmation of the sponsors, these FIUs will initiate the monitoring phase in close consultation with the applicant FIU. The monitoring activity may include collecting basic information, such as additional contact details; confirmation of the level of interest from the unit, or jurisdiction, in joining the Egmont Group; basic information on the operational aspects of the FIU, and any additional legislation or related documentation. The monitoring activities will be ongoing and may also include providing technical advice and assistance, as appropriate, as well as providing additional information about the Egmont Group.
The Chair OWG will provide all documentation forwarded by the EGS, and any other additional information relating to the applicant FIU, to the Sponsor FIUs. There is no fixed period or specific procedures to be followed for the monitoring phase and mutually agreed onsite visits can also form part of the monitoring activity. Much will depend on the operational status of the applicant FIU, including the available legislative and logistical infrastructure.
The Sponsor FIUs will be the official and main Egmont Group contact point for the applicant FIU during this period. Any further correspondence between the Egmont Group and the applicant FIU during this period should go through the Sponsor FIUs.
In preparation for the onsite visit to the applicant FIU the Egmont Group Secretariat will submit the LWG Questionnaire to the applicant FIU, requesting it to be finalized and returned not later than one week after the onsite visit. The applicant FIU will also receive information on contribution payment, and other relevant Egmont Group documents to further inform the FIU on the role and responsibilities of an Egmont Group member FIU.
The more the applicant FIU complies with the basic Egmont criteria and requirements, the sooner the sponsors will identify that the time is appropriate for a (final) onsite visit. The purpose of this visit is not to conduct an assessment of all the relevant AML-CFT institutions of the jurisdiction; rather it is to confirm the operational status of the applicant FIU. They (the sponsors) will agree on a suitable date with the applicant FIU and will inform the OWG Chair of the date of the onsite visit.
During the onsite visit the Sponsor FIUs and the applicant FIU discuss operational issues. They may also finalise answers to the previously submitted Questionnaire and clarify any issues raised with regard to the legislation. After the final onsite visit the Sponsor FIUs will draft a confidential onsite assessment report (OAR), based on a format previously agreed by the Egmont Group, which describes their findings.
After the onsite visit, the EGS will compile a comprehensive information package concerning the applicant FIU that includes at least:
This information package is provided to the Chairs and members of the Outreach Working Group (OWG) and the Legal Working Group (LWG) for their consideration. During the next session of the Egmont Working Group meetings, the OWG and LWG each discuss the candidate's application to determine whether there will be a recommendation made to the Heads of FIUs (H0FIU5) to admit the candidate FIU as an Egmont Group member FIU.
The Sponsor FIUs may recommend that the Egmont Group invite an applicant FIU to attend the Egmont Group Annual Plenary. During the application process there are two ways that an applicant FIU can be invited to the Egmont Plenary: either as an Observer, or as a Candidate FIU.
As Observer FIU: an invitation as an Observer FIU should be seen as encouragement to the applicant FIU to continue the way forward in becoming a member of the Egmont Group. The FIU needs to take into consideration that this invitation does not grant it a permanent "observer status" with the Egmont Group, nor does it provide any guarantees on pending membership decisions.
The applicant FIU will be able to attend any scheduled training and open plenary sessions, however the Working Groups and the Heads of FIUs meetings are only open for Egmont member FIUs. As an Observer FIU there will be opportunities for the applicant FIU to meet with the FIU community by participating in the events (including social activities) during the plenary week.
As Candidate FIU: an invitation to attend the Egmont Plenary as a Candidate FIU, indicates that the nomination of the applicant FIU as Egmont member will be discussed by the Heads of FIUs during that plenary period. In addition to the invitation letter and information on the plenary program, the applicant FIU will receive a model Charter Commitment letter. The invitation letter informs the applicant FIU that it will have to commit in writing to the Egmont Charter in the case where the Heads endorse their application.
Should the Heads of FIU5 agree to accept the applicant FIU as a new Egmont member, it will then be able to participate in the remainder of the Heads of FIUs meeting as an Egmont member. In the event that the Heads cannot reach consensus on the recommendation, then the membership decision will be postponed until the next annual plenary. Further assistance and monitoring will then take place over the period until the next plenary. The Sponsor FIUs will maintain contact with the applicant FIU for further guidance, as well as to inform the applicant FIU regularly on the progress of its membership application.
In the case where the Heads of FIUs endorse the FIU's membership recommendation, the applicant becomes an Egmont member FIU. This membership will be effective upon committing in writing to the Egmont Charter. The new member will, at the same time, receive information from the EGS on its annual membership contribution and connection to the Egmont Secured Website (ESW). Official signature of Charter document of new member FIU may be submitted later if officials at the Plenary are not authorized to sign at that moment.