[author: Stephen Wallace]

The European Parliament published the provisional edition of the Fifth Money Laundering Directive (“MLD5“) on April 19, 2018 which it decided to adopt in full on the same day.

The Parliament has asked the European Commission to inform it if it replaces or substantially amends the proposal. It has also instructed the President to inform its position to the Council of the EU, the Commission and National Parliaments.

The next step is for the Council to formally adopt the proposed MLD5. When this happens it will enter into force 20 days after being published in the Office Journal of the EU (“OJ“). The draft text currently sets out that member states must enshrine the provisions of MLD5 into their national law 10 months after the date on which it enters into force.