Eu blacklist countries mauritius Uganda was already on the list which now has a total of 22 countries. This has implications for the application of the Tax Haven Defence Act (StAbwG) for the countries concerned. For all countries identified as high-risk, the FATF calls on all members and urges all jurisdictions to apply Jun 18, 2025 · The European Union (EU) has recently updated its list of high-risk third-country jurisdictions, identifying several African nations as having strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) frameworks. Oct 10, 2019 · LUXEMBOURG - European Union finance ministers agreed to remove the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and Mauritius from the bloc's lists of countries deemed to be acting as tax havens, a move that activists called a "whitewash". The exit of Mauritius from the FATF grey list will pave the way to its removal from the European Commission’s list of high-risk countries. Council of the EU – Code of Conduct Group – Harmful Tax Regimes – EU list – Tax Transparency On October 5, 2021, the Council adopted conclusions on a revised EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. As a result, the European Commission also identified and included Mauritius on the EU AML list of high-risk third countries (Black List). The Financial Action Task Force blacklist (often abbreviated to FATF blacklist, and officially known as the " Call for action "), [1] is a blacklist maintained by the Financial Action Task Force. [2][3] The blacklist has been issued by the FATF since 2000, and lists countries which FATF judges to be non-cooperative in the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, calling Oct 29, 2025 · The updated 2025 blacklist further restricts African carriers from operating in EU airspace and highlights systemic gaps in national aviation supervision. This is a state of affairs that we would have never contemplated and that falls at a most inopportune time with the Covid-19 predicament. May 28, 2020 · The European Union (EU) has included Mauritius and 11 other countries on its revised list of high-risk countries allegedly having strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing frameworks (AML-CFT Framework). 150/2004 of 13 February, issued by the Portuguese Ministry of Finance and consequently updated, Portugal defines an official blacklist of countries and jurisdictions considered for legal and tax purposes as tax havens. Currently, based on the latest and most recent update, the following jurisdictions are on the European Union's blacklist: Nov 11, 2019 · The European Union’s list of tax havens is one of the highest standards for determining whether a country is a tax haven. Feb 25, 2020 · In addition, the EU blacklist is linked to EU funding under new provisions in the Financial Regulation and in the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD), the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) and the External Lending Mandate (ELM). Feb 23, 2024 · High-risk jurisdictions have significant strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and financing of proliferation. Jun 5, 2020 · In a press release issued on Tuesday 2 June, the office of the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, expressed its indignation at seeing the archipelago appear on the European Union's (EU) blacklist, which identifies third countries whose anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing systems are strategically deficient. The EU said […] Dec 13, 2024 · The EU aviation safety system is overseen by the European Commission, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and National Aviation Authorities. It is used by the Member States to tackle external risks of tax abuse and unfair tax competition. The Commission concluded that Mauritius has Mauritius is officially out of the EU List of High-Risk Third Countries (referred to as the “EU Blacklist”)! The European Commission (EC)’s amended Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 was May 6, 2020 · Romario Scott/Gleaner Writer JAMAICA HAS been added to the European Union's (EU) blacklist of countries that have been accused of being too soft on money laundering, but Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke is pushing back against the Feb 18, 2025 · Chiara Putaturo is available for interview and comment. Jun 28, 2021 · Mauritius has taken a strong commitment to sustain the AML/CFT reforms and fight against money laundering and terrorism financing. 2024 hat der Rat der Europäischen Union (EU) im Zuge seiner Sitzung zur Bekämpfung schädlicher Steuerpraktiken die sogenannte EU-Blacklist – eine im Dezember 2017 erstmalig veröffentlichte Aufstellung von nicht kooperativen Ländern für Steuerzwecke – überarbeitet. Nov 5, 2020 · In brief Through an amendment of the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 (the “Regulation”) supplementing Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and the European Council, the European Commission (the “EC”) has on 7 May 2020 identified, inter alia, Mauritius as a high-risk third country with strategic deficiencies in its Anti Money-Laundering and Counter Financing Terrorism Jun 5, 2020 · CLIENT NOTE As part of a series of measures to strengthen the EU’s framework against money laundering and terrorist financing, the European Commission identified Mauritius as a “high-risk” third country for the purposes of its anti-money laundering (“AML”) and combatting terrorist financing legal framework under the EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive on 7 May 2020. Jan 18, 2024 · As expected, the European Commission has removed Cayman from its AML 'blacklist' clearing the way for Cayman funds to still be marketed under AIFMD 2. The list has not yet been confirmed but, despite Mauritius' best efforts Feb 22, 2022 · As per the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (“EU”) on 21 February 2022, we are pleased to announce that the EU has confirmed the removal of Mauritius from its list of high-risk third countries (“EU Blacklist”). The EU commission cited that it is satisfied that Mauritius has met the requirements l Dec 8, 2023 · The EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes was updated on 17 October 2023. Mauritius Removed from the EU Blacklist The European Parliament and the European Council have, on 7th January 2022, decided to include the following countries into the European Union (EU) list of It is now expected that Mauritius will be taken off the EU's 'blacklist' of countries with AML / CFT deficiencies in the coming weeks. 21st October 2021 is a day to remember as it marks the long-awaited decision of the ‘Financial Action Task Force’ (“FATF”) to remove Mauritius from its list of countries under enhanced monitoring which is commonly referred to as the ‘Grey List’. Mauritius has established itself as a stable and competitive economy, achieving middle-income status within 50 years of independence and recently classified as an upper-middle-income country. We endeavour to keep our valued clients informed of the situation in due course. To assist your company that is incorporated in a jurisdiction enacting economic substance (ES), we Die EU-Liste nicht kooperativer Länder und Gebiete umfasst Länder oder Gebiete außerhalb der EU, die es versäumt haben, ausreichende Verpflichtungen einzugehen, um den Bedenken der EU im Steuerbereich Rechnung zu tragen. Jul 8, 2024 · This work will explore how Mauritius and Botswana leveraged new approaches to beneficial ownership and residence to meet EU standards for tax regime transparency, resulting in each country’s removal from the EU Blacklist. Oct 21, 2021 · The “grey list” is a list of jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in their approach to AML/CFT and under increased monitoring by the FATF. Oct 19, 2023 · Today, the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (the 'EU Blacklist') has been updated by the Council of the European Union with the addition of Antigua and Barbuda, Belize and Seychelles. Jan 13, 2022 · The removal of Mauritius from the EU’s list will enhance Mauritius’ status as a leading jurisdiction in the global financial services industry and reinforce its position as a notable investment destination and domicile of choice for structuring cross-border investment into Africa and Asia. 5 These updated criteria and procedures relegated the tax regimes of Mauritius and Botswana as strategically ‘ [deficient] on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist The country was subsequently listed on the EU Blacklist and thereafter on the UK List of High Risk Third Countries. The four countries are Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius and Zimbabwe. This follows the October 2021 Plenary Session during which the Financial Feb 23, 2021 · Mauritius has been on the blacklist of the European Union since June 19, 2020. Jan 21, 2022 · With effect from 07 January 2022, the European Commission removed Mauritius from the list of high-risk third countries since all strategic deficiencies identified by FATF in its AML/CFT system have been addressed. And the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has Mauritius exits the High-Risk Third Countries EU List Following the exit of Mauritius from the Grey List of the Financial Action Task Force (‘FATF’) and the UK’s List of High Risk Third Countries, we are pleased to inform you that the European Commission announced that Mauritius has now been removed from the High-Risk Third Countries EU List. This further eased pressure on the financial sector, particularly concerning relationships with European banks and investors. This year, the EU dropped the island from its blacklist. The nation has successfully diversified its economy from a sugarcane monoculture to a robust service and manufacturing sector, with notable contributions from tourism, financial services, and information Apr 1, 2022 · But, since then, efforts by the Mauritian government to clear its name have paid off. In brief On 14 February 2023, the EU’s ECOFIN Council approved the latest list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. Its rules apply in all EU countries and cover all key areas of aviation including airworthiness, aircrew, aerodromes, air operations and the provision of air navigation services. The OECD and Mauritius today agreed a three-year Country Programme to further strengthen and deepen co-operation aimed at supporting Mauritius on its policy reform journey to regain and maintain its status as a high-income economy. . Absolutely,the fact that Mauritius finds itself on the EU's blacklist today, is the result of wanton negligence by both current and previous (2014-2019) Governments. More autonomy from the FATF can be reached through grey listing or merging the EU money laundering list with the EU tax Nov 3, 2025 · Mauritius As A Standout Mauritius is among the countries also on revised European Union high-risk third-country ranking which also exists out. This announcement is a sign of increased business recovery, particularly in the real estate sector, allowing the Mauritian economy to take off again Oct 23, 2024 · The EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (EU blacklist) was updated on 8 October 2024. 10. Annex II of the list (greylisted countries) was Dec 16, 2020 · Expert views September 30, 2020 The inclusion of Mauritius on the European Union's blacklist is a considerable hindrance to the image of our international financial center. Mar 18, 2019 · By Rattan Khushiram The European Union (EU) announced a revised blacklist of 15 tax havens (uncooperative jurisdictions) on 12 March 2019. How did the EU respond, given that lots of Europeans lost billions, and one investor even committed suicide? Mauritius is a good country. Given the power of the EU and its member countries, the list holds a great deal of weight. Mar 21, 2022 · What prospect does this withdrawal herald? Mauritius is no longer on the European Commission's tax blacklist. The country was blacklisted by the EU in October 2020. Oct 24, 2025 · High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action (i. The Council also announced the removal of the British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica and the Marshall Islands from the EU Blacklist. May 22, 2023 · The EU Council recently updated its blacklist of Non-cooperative jurisdictions in February 2023, and the list now consists of 16 jurisdictions. This is particularly good news for South African investors, who are flocking to the island in their droves to take advantage of a range of incentives that make it cheaper and easier for investors and Mauritius AML CFT Activities In October 2021, the FATF announced the removal of Mauritius from the list of high-risk third countries with regards to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT), also known as “ Grey List “. Four jurisdictions, Russia, British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica and Marshall Islands were all added to Annex I (the so-called blacklist). Oct 10, 2025 · This timeline presents the key dates related to the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions since January 2016, when the initiative was first introduced. And the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has Jul 20, 2021 · This is the second in a series of posts around the ‘blacklisting' of Mauritius by the European Union (EU) in 2020 and the steps that the jurisdiction is taking to ensure its removal from the list at the earliest opportunity. Jan 18, 2022 · Article by Dev Erriah – Head of Chambers, Erriah Chambers, Mauritius Mauritius is set to be formally removed from the European Union List of High Risk Third countries (the “EU List”) very soon following the meeting of the European Commission College of Commissioners on 22 December 2021. The EU […] Country-specific information about a country or jurisdiction's actions to tackle money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Jun 16, 2023 · The European Commission added four African countries to a new list of countries that pose financial risks to the European Union due to anti-money laundering and terrorism financing shortfalls. The designation Oct 14, 2024 · In response to the global efforts to combat tax avoidance and ensure transparency, many jurisdictions have introduced economic substance requirements. The EU Regulation: Mauritius Officially Withdrawn from The List of High-Risk Third Countries of The European Commission Jan 12, 2022 · Following a highly successful evaluation of Mauritius’ regime against Money laundering and the financing of terrorism, the Financial Action Task Force (“FATF”) removed Mauritius from the list of non-compliant jurisdictions on 21 October 2021. Mauritius and Botswana exited the EU Blacklist through landmark reforms that serve as a litmus test for the OECD’s BEPS Actions and their impact on jurisdictions competing for international funds. The country was also rated compliant with 39 of 40 FATF recommendations in 2021. The paper shows four ways to change this. Feb 12, 2021 · Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has put together a solid team of experts to work on getting Mauritius off the European Union's blacklist of third countries that pose a risk to the bloc because of - 2/12/2021 The European Union tax haven blacklist, officially the EU list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions, is a tool of the European Union (EU) that lists tax havens. [1] The EU placed Mauritius and Botswana on the Blacklist in May 2020 after adopting updated criteria for assessing high-risk third countries and publishing its revised methodology for identifying these high-risk jurisdictions. Double taxation agreements between territories often provide reduced WHT rates. REPERCUSSIONS OF BEING LISTED The repercussions of Mauritius being perceived as a country having a high money laundering and terrorism risk profile, have been serious. Jul 13, 2023 · As more and more inspections and outreach sessions were conducted, there are fewer non-compliance issues noted. Jan 12, 2022 · The European Commission announced, on 10 January, that it had removed Mauritius from its list of high-risk third countries – the so-called ‘EU blacklist’ – noting that it had strengthened the effectiveness of its Anti-Money Laundering / Counter Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) regime sufficiently to consider that previously identified strategic deficiencies had been rectified. As such, the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 (the “Regulation”) will be amended to delist Mauritius from the EU Blacklist. Oct 7, 2020 · Local Country Blacklists Despite being removed from the EU Blacklist, the Cayman Islands may still be added to, or remain on, local blacklists in certain European jurisdictions. Thereafter, Mauritius will be formally delisted once the updated list of High-Risk Third Countries of the EU is published. Jan 23, 2023 · Having been closely involved in the inception and development of our Global Business sector since the early 1990s, it dismays me deeply to face the reality that Mauritius is now on the list of High-Risk Third Countries issued by the European Commission (EC). Nov 5, 2020 · In brief Through an amendment of the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 (the “Regulation”) supplementing Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and the European Council, the European Commission (the “EC”) has on 7 May 2020 identified, inter alia, Mauritius as a high-risk third country with strategic deficiencies in its Anti Money-Laundering and Counter Financing Terrorism Once the European Commission has accordingly adopted it, the list (also known as the “ EU Blacklist ”) shall be submitted to the European Council and European Parliament for scrutiny. This list sets out those countries identified as presenting strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT regime that pose significant threats to the financial system of the European Union. e. Jan 14, 2021 · Mauritius was included in this list and the said article became applicable as from 1 October 2020. It was adopted for the first time in 2017 as a response to tax avoidance in the EU, screening 92 countries. But as the relevant authorities are working hard to pull the country out of the blacklist, the future does not seem so bleak. [1] It is managed by the Code Jan 13, 2022 · In an official publication released on 7th January 2022, The European Commission has proceeded to withdraw/remove Mauritius from their list of High Risk Third countries (often referred to as the EU Blacklist). This will provide the required comfort to institutional investors from the EU to continue to invest into Mauritius corporate and fund structures with a view to making positive socio-economic impacts in the region. The country had previously been listed in February 2020. Aug 1, 2024 · According to official EU information, since the introduction of the blacklist, at least 60 countries have taken measures to address the European Commission's concerns and more than 100 harmful regimes have been abolished. Jan 12, 2022 · The Commission has thus approved the country’s removal from its List of High Risk Third Countries (commonly referred to as the “EU Blacklist”). Costa Rica, Hong Kong (SAR), China (hereinafter, Hong Feb 27, 2022 · As per the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union ("EU") on 21 February 2022, we are pleased to announce that the EU has confirmed the removal of Mauritius from its list of high-risk third countries ("EU Blacklist"). The blacklist originally issued in December 2017 numbered 17 countries, which was reduced to only 5 by end 2018. Since the EU created its tax haven list, Oxfam has been calling for stronger rules to make the list fairer and more effective. The Regulation will enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Extended defensive measures will also apply to some of the remaining tax havens on the list from 2025. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Nov 15, 2022 · Mauritius looks forward to the signature of the new OACPS-EU Partnership Agreement. With regard to the European Union-African Union Joint Vision for 2030, the Parties discussed the future of their partnership in the context of the post-Cotonou Agreement. Jul 8, 2024 · By Daniel Walker. Whilst local blacklists often follow the EU Blacklist, removal from local blacklists is not necessarily automatic. A situation that remains worrying for Mauritius as an international financial centre. Nov 4, 2019 · In 2017, the European Union established a “blacklist” and a “gray list” of countries and territories which its finance ministers identified as havens for tax avoidance schemes. It includes all the revisions to the list, along with other milestones, and provides links to official documents. Jun 4, 2018 · The inaugural EU blacklist contains 17 countries that fail to meet good governance tax standards. Dec 6, 2017 · The EU agreed to not add countries to its blacklist of tax havens even if the country failed to live up to EU tax standards if the country made a sufficient commitment to change its ways. The EU’s latest update brings the total number of banned airlines to 169, including 142 carriers certified in 17 countries deemed to have inadequate safety oversight. Jun 5, 2020 · CLIENT NOTE As part of a series of measures to strengthen the EU’s framework against money laundering and terrorist financing, the European Commission identified Mauritius as a “high-risk” third country for the purposes of its anti-money laundering (“AML”) and combatting terrorist financing legal framework under the EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive on 7 May 2020. Three jurisdictions were added to the blacklist (Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Seychelles), two were moved to the "grey list" (British Virgin Islands and Costa Rica), and one country (Marshall Islands) was removed from the lists. Part of this compliance involves reviewing, editing, and creating a blacklist of non-compliant nations, that are believed to facilitate harmful tax practices and have inadequate economic or compliance systems. This development carries significant legal and commercial consequences for businesses and financial institutions operating in or transacting Oct 10, 2019 · European Union finance ministers agreed to remove the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and Mauritius from the bloc's lists of countries deemed to be acting as tax havens, a move that activists Feb 22, 2022 · The European Commission moves to withdraw Mauritius from its ‘blacklist’ 17 January 2022 The European Commission confirmed on 7 January 2022, through its Delegated Regulation, that Mauritius has been removed Mauritius from its list of high-risk third countries, who have deficiencies in its Anti Money-Laundering and Counter Financing Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime. The regulation will come into effect on the twentieth day following the publication date. When the FATF places a jurisdiction under increased monitoring, it means the country has committed to resolve swiftly the identified The EU blacklist of high-risk jurisdictions for money laundering is being criticised for a lack of autonomy from the FATF lists, politicisation and lobbying, and lack of transparency. This augurs well as it will entail automatic removal of our State Island from the European Union’s ‘Blacklist’ and the United Mauritius Officially Out of the EU Blacklist On the 7th of January 2022, the European Commission removed Mauritius from its list of high-risk third countries by acknowledging that it no longer presents strategic deficiencies on the basis of the criteria laid down in Directive (EU) 2015/849. Oxfam is demanding: To automatically blacklist countries with very low or no tax rates; To implement the long-awaited criterion on beneficial ownership transparency to make company ownership more transparent; and Under Ministerial Order n. Sep 24, 2021 · As a consequence, it was also included (along with 11 other countries) on the EU’s revised list of high-risk countries that have ‘strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing frameworks’ (AML-CFT Framework). It is apposite to note that in May 2020, the EU included Mauritius along with 11 other countries on its revised list of high-risk countries having strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT framework. Apr 1, 2022 · But, since then, efforts by the Mauritian government to clear its name have paid off. Mar 14, 2022 · Standard Bank Mauritius is happy to share the announcement by the European Union (EU) that it had removed Mauritius from its list of high-risk third countries (EU Blacklist) effective 13 March 2022. Mauritius exits the EU list of High-Risk Third Countries The European Commission confirmed on 7 January 2022 that Mauritius has been removed from the European Union (EU) list of high-risk third countries, following measures taken to improve its AML/CFT regime. While some jurisdictions implement these rules to address tax avoidance by corporations, others do so to avoid being included in the EU blacklist. 0. The EU ‘blacklist’ became applicable on 1 October 2020. Mauritius successfully exited the list in 2021 and was amongst the first countries in the world to have exited the list before the deadline set by FATF. A piece of welcome news coupled with the opening of the borders since the start of October. The EU is of the view that these strategic deficiencies pose significant threats to Jan 13, 2022 · As such, the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 will be amended to delist Mauritius from the EU Blacklist. Following the one-month scrutiny period, the Regulation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 21 st February 2022. Oct 25, 2021 · The delisting of Mauritius from the FATF grey list will undoubtedly help in the delisting of Mauritius from the EU “black list”. May 16, 2025 · The EU placed Mauritius and Botswana on the Blacklist in May 20203 after adopting updated criteria for assessing high-risk third countries4 and publishing its revised methodology for identifying these high-risk jurisdictions. Apr 21, 2025 · Following the FATF’s positive assessment, the European Commission officially removed Mauritius from its AML/CFT blacklist effective March 2022. Die Liste setzt sich aus Ländern zusammen, die ihren Verpflichtungen hinsichtlich Steuertransparenz und fairer Mauritius was added on the FATF grey list in February 2020 and consequently on the European Union Blacklist. A further 47 countries, including Liechtenstein and Switzerland, have been put on a ‘grey-list’ (European Commission, 2017). Funds from these instruments cannot be channelled through entities in listed countries. "Countries Added: Burkina Faso, Cayman Islands, Haiti, Jordan, Mali, Morocco, the Philippines, Senegal, and South Sudan Countries Removed: The Bahamas, Botswana, Ghana, Iraq and Mauritius" "The Nov 11, 2019 · The European Union’s list of tax havens is one of the highest standards for determining whether a country is a tax haven. See the territory summaries for more detailed information. Recently, the organization removed the United Arab Emirates, Mauritius, and Switzerland from the tax haven list. Jan 28, 2022 · For the island nation of Mauritius, which had labored to build a robust international financial center, it was particularly painful to be identified as a jurisdiction with “strategic deficiencies” in anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). Oct 9, 2024 · The European Commission (EC) yesterday issued a release announcing that European Union (EU) member states have updated the list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions, removing one jurisdiction, Antigua and Barbuda, from Annex I (the so-called “blacklist”) and two jurisdictions, Armenia and Malysia, from Annex II (the “grey list”). Dec 9, 2024 · Am 8. The FATF Plenary in June also added Haiti, the Philippines, South Sudan and Malta to the list of countries subject to its increased monitoring process. Listed since October 2020, Mauritius is no longer considered by the European Union as a high tax risk country since 13 March 2022. Mar 29, 2022 · The European Commission has removed Mauritius from its blacklist, recognising it no longer have strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT regime. Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring - February 2021 Jurisdictions under increased monitoring are actively working with the FATF to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. Oct 10, 2025 · The EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions includes non-EU countries or territories that didn't make sufficient commitments to EU concerns on tax purposes. Here’s to a brighter future! Jun 12, 2020 · The EU’s decision to blacklist Mauritius for money laundering and terrorist financing sent a shockwave across the island. Jul 14, 2021 · This indicates that Ghana could be removed from the EU blacklist in August this year, which is a very encouraging scenario for Mauritius. Jun 22, 2021 · The government's initial response was to seek the removal of Mauritius from the EU blacklist before it became effective on 1 October 2020. Since the FATF removed Mauritius from its grey list, the European Commission is now expected to start the administrative process to, in turn, remove Mauritius from the EU ‘blacklist’ of high-risk countries. The 28-nation EU set up a blacklist and a grey list of tax havens in Feb 22, 2022 · Mauritius is officially out of the European Commission’s list of high-risk third countries. For all countries identified as high-risk, the FATF calls on all members and urges all jurisdictions to apply enhanced due diligence, and, in the most serious cases, countries are called upon to apply counter-measures to protect the Feb 17, 2022 · The European Union Commission has quietly removed Botswana from its list of high-risk third countries which identifies third-country jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in their Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Terrorist Financing regimes that pose significant threats to the financial system of the European Union. Mauritius Officially Withdrawn from The List of High-Risk Third Countries of The European Commission Following the adoption of COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2022/229 by the European Parliament, the delisting of Mauritius has been formalised by the publication of the updated list of "High Risk Third Countries" in the Official Journal of the European Union (L39 - https://eur-lex. eu It is now expected that Mauritius will be taken off the EU's 'blacklist' of countries with AML / CFT deficiencies in the coming weeks. Accordingly, the Mauritian government has committed itself to address the strategic deficiencies as recommended by the FATF as per its AML/CFT regimes. europa. The Mauritius Leaks investigation revealed how multinational companies use the country to avoid paying taxes in various regions, including Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States. Jun 13, 2025 · The European Union has updated its financial blacklist, adding five African countries: Algeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Namibia to its list of nations with strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing systems. Mauritius Removed from the EU Blacklist The European Parliament and the European Council have, on 7th January 2022, decided to include the following countries into the European Union (EU) list of Oct 10, 2025 · This timeline presents the key dates related to the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions since January 2016, when the initiative was first introduced. Jan 1, 2024 · This work will explore how Mauritius and Botswana leveraged new approaches to beneficial ownership and residence to meet EU standards for tax regime transparency, resulting in each country's removal from the EU Blacklist. Feb 18, 2025 · The European Commission (EC) today issued a release announcing that European Union (EU) member states have not made any changes to the list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions (the so-called “blacklist”), which currently comprises 11 countries (American Samoa, Anguilla, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Panama, Russia, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, U. Following the exit of Mauritius from the Grey List of the Financial Action Task Force (‘FATF’) and the UK’s List of High Risk Third Countries, we are pleased to inform you that the European Commission announced that Mauritius has now been removed from the High-Risk Third Countries EU List. Nov 11, 2025 · The European Union (EU) Council has removed Seychelles from Annex I of the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (the so-called EU blacklist) with effect from Tuesday 19th February 2024, and added the jurisdiction to Annex II of the list (the so-called EU greylist). Virgin Islands, and Vanuatu). The nation has successfully diversified its economy from a sugarcane monoculture to a robust service and manufacturing sector, with notable contributions from tourism, financial services, and information Description of Withholding tax WHT ratesDividend, interest, and royalty WHT rates for WWTS territories Statutory WHT rates on dividend, interest, and royalty payments made by companies in WWTS territories to residents and non-residents are provided. No countries were removed from the previous list (published in October 2022). Nov 5, 2021 · We now await the imminent removal of Mauritius from the EU List of High Risk Third Countries (also referred to as the “EU Blacklist”), which will cement our jurisdiction’s position as an International Financial Centre that exudes integrity and confidence. S. Mauritius has consistently proven that it complies with the highest standards of global transparency and cooperation and this confirms the Mauritius International Financial Centre as being a Feb 16, 2023 · On 14 February 2023, the EU added four jurisdictions, the British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Marshall Islands and Russia, to its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (the “EU Blacklist”). Blacklisted countries face stricter transactional controls than other nations, while gray list countries and territories are those that have made a demonstrated (but unmet) commitment to comply with EU standards May 21, 2020 · The European Commission's decision to possibly place Mauritius on the European Union Blacklist has come as a severe blow to operators. Feb 14, 2022 · The emerging financial hub of Mauritius is back in business after being removed from the European Union’s list of high-risk countries – the so-called ‘EU blacklist’ – earlier this year. The Council agreed to move Anguilla, Dominica and Seychelles to Annex II of the list (the so-called “grey list”). The EU blacklist will become applicable as from 1 October 2020. Jun 12, 2020 · The EU’s decision to blacklist Mauritius for money laundering and terrorist financing sent a shockwave across the island. "black list") This statement, (previously called "Public Statement"), identifies countries or jurisdictions with serious strategic deficiencies to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and financing of proliferation. Between 2019 to 2020, the country was the subject of the Mauritius Leaks, an analysis conducted by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Following the removal of Is Mauritius blacklisted? On 7 January 2022, the European Parliament and the European Council delisted Mauritius from the EU List of High-Risk Third Countries (EU Blacklist) after being satisfied that the country no longer has any strategic deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) framework. Aug 1, 2025 · The European Union included Mauritius in its top 30 tax blacklist nations in 2015, while Oxfam listed it as one of the world's worst tax havens in 2016. The update to Annex II It was therefore only a matter of time before the European Union, who had placed Mauritius on its high-risk third countries based on the findings of the FAFT, also removed Mauritius from the EU Blacklist. Jun 3, 2025 · Although the name of such airline, unknown to the Commission, will not figure on the EU air safety list, it is nevertheless banned from operating within the European Union because of the ban on all airlines registered in that country. It soon became clear, however, that the only way to ensure delisting was to address the deficiencies highlighted in order to get removed from the FATF 'grey list' on which the EU blacklist is based. Feb 26, 2024 · Trinidad and Tobago does not have a rating of at least ‘Largely Compliant’ by the Global Forum for exchange of information on request, has not signed and ratified the OECD Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance as amended, has harmful preferential tax regimes (Free Zones), does not implement the BEPS minimum standard on Feb 27, 2024 · On 20 February 2024 the EU published an update to its so-called “Blacklist” of jurisdictions that are not cooperative for tax purposes and “Grey… The EU blacklist of high-risk jurisdictions for money laundering is being criticised for a lack of autonomy from the FATF lists, politicisation and lobbying, and lack of transparency. zpsbxc oew wbgypp vbpd cqkt vxx malnaby lub nkergjw wzsdobmi tushrq zddi hhfdmlp tvm ndvpt