The EU AML package: AMLR, AMLD6 and AMLA — timeline and impact
The EU's 2024 AML package is the biggest overhaul of European anti-money laundering rules in decades. It replaces the directive-based system — implemented nationally in laws like the Dutch Wwft — with a single, directly applicable regulation, a new directive and a European supervisor.
The three instruments
| Instrument | What it covers | Key date |
|---|---|---|
| AMLR — Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 | Directly applicable obligations for obliged entities: CDD, beneficial ownership, reporting, group policies | Applies from 10 July 2027 |
| AMLD6 — Directive (EU) 2024/1640 | Registers, national supervision and FIUs, risk assessments | Transposition largely by 10 July 2027 |
| AMLA Regulation — (EU) 2024/1620 | The new EU supervisor AMLA, based in Frankfurt | Operational since 2025; direct supervision from 2028 |
Key changes
- A single rulebook: harmonised CDD, beneficial-ownership and internal-control requirements across the EU, with technical standards and guidance increasingly coming from AMLA.
- More prescription: the AMLR is considerably more detailed than most national laws — existing policies and procedures will need recalibration, not just renaming.
- A wider scope: crypto-asset service providers under the full regime, traders in luxury goods, and (from 2029) professional football clubs and agents.
- An EU-wide cash limit: €10,000 for large cash payments in trade, with member states free to go lower.
- AMLA: direct supervision of selected high-risk cross-border institutions from 2028, plus coordination of national supervisors and FIUs.
How to prepare
- Run a gap analysis mapping your current framework (e.g. the Wwft) to the AMLR, article by article.
- Get UBO and CDD data in order — stricter documentation rules will expose weak files.
- Rewrite policies against the Regulation, referencing AMLR articles where possible.
- Track AMLA's technical standards and guidance as they are published in the run-up to 2027.
- Train your people on new definitions and thresholds — from front line to board.
FAQ
When does the EU AML Regulation apply?
The AMLR (Regulation (EU) 2024/1624) applies directly in all EU member states from 10 July 2027. A later date (2029) applies to some sectors, such as professional football clubs and agents.
What is AMLA?
AMLA is the EU's new Anti-Money Laundering Authority, based in Frankfurt. It coordinates national supervisors and FIUs, and from 2028 will directly supervise a selection of the highest-risk cross-border financial institutions.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 (AMLR) — EUR-Lex
- Directive (EU) 2024/1640 (AMLD6) — EUR-Lex
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1620 (establishing AMLA) — EUR-Lex
- AMLA — Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism
Read next
Getting AMLR-ready? Our AMLR gap analysis maps what changes for your institution in three weeks — fixed fee, with a priority matrix and a roadmap to July 2027. Or book a free 30-minute check first.