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MEPs approve new laws to tackle money laundering, terrorist financing

A new anti-money laundering authority will also be established (Stock image)
A new anti-money laundering authority will also be established (Stock image)

New laws to tackle money laundering, terrorist financing and sanctions evasion have been approved by the European Parliament.

The legislation seeks to place increased surveillance on professional football clubs and individuals worth more than €50 million, excluding their main home.

A new anti-money laundering authority will also be established.

The Government had sought for it to be based in Dublin, but lost out to Frankfurt earlier this year.

The proposed directive would give more powers to financial intelligence units to analyse and detect money laundering and terrorist financing.

MEP Billy Kelleher, a member of the Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, said that the "the scope of the Regulation is extended to traders of luxury goods such as jewellery and goldsmiths, as well as luxury cars and yachts", adding that crypto-currency will also be included in the new rules.

There are several other legislative files on the agenda, as the parliament nears the end of its term this week.

The European Parliament adopted measures to improve air quality by 2030, by placing strict limits on the most harmful pollutants.

If the new rules are being violated, those affected by air pollution will be able to take legal action and citizens may receive compensation if their health is damaged.

Legislation to correct bogus self-employment for platform workers, those reliant on online platforms such as apps for their work, was also approved.

Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Group said it will give such workers "a legal presumption of employment, new channels to report violence and harassment in their work, protection against company monitoring of conversations between workers, and a right to human review of management decisions".

Separately, a directive to curb reckless driving across the European Union will be voted was supported.

Approximately 40% of cross-border traffic offences currently go unpunished.

Under this directive member states will be obliged to cooperate more to impose traffic offences.