Allister raises IRA money laundering in Bulgaria
04 April 2006
During Question Time in the European Parliament, Jim Allister MEP raised concern about the readiness of Bulgaria, due to join the EU next year, to adequately implement legislative requirements on money laundering and terrorist financing. The DUP referred specifically to the belief that the IRA, after its Northern Bank robbery, exploited money laundering opportunities in Bulgaria. Mr Allister therefore asked what steps were being taken specifically to ensure that the Bulgarian authorities would meet their obligations in defeating money laundering and terrorist financing.
Commissioner McCreevy assured the House that the candidate countries were being required to come up to and meet EU standards on this and other issues. Commenting, Mr Allister said he hoped this was indeed the case.
