EU bigs reject endorsement of dirty money blacklist

By Bahattin Gonultas and Ata Ufuk Seker

BRUSSELS/BERLIN (AA) - A group of European Union states are raising concerns about the inclusion of Saudi Arabia on the EU dirty money blacklist, according to news in European media.

Weapon producing EU member countries including Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Finland, Belgium and Bulgaria are trying to block a EU Commission’s plan to include Saudi Arabia on a blacklist of countries that pose money-laundering and terrorism financing threats due to concerns about the future of their arms export.

The EU's executive commission adopted last month a draft list that adds Saudi Arabia, Panama and small Pacific and Caribbean islands to the list of 16 states that includes Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen and North Korea.

The EU Commission has reached the final stage in completing the updated EU dirty money blacklist.

The latest version of the list is expected to be approved this week.

Riyadh is lobbying against the listing and the U.S. is pressuring the EU to prevent the inclusion of Saudi Arabia on the list, according to reports.

If Saudi Arabia is included in the list, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who receives open support of U.S. President Donald Trump, may be in a difficult position due to his activities in Yemen.