National and international cooperation

The FIU does not operate in isolation. Cooperation and information-sharing at both national and international level are essential for the effective performance of its functions and, more broadly, a necessary condition for ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire anti-money laundering system.

At national level, as already mentioned, the FIU cooperates with sectoral supervisory authorities, including Banca d'Italia itself, with investigative bodies (namely the Guardia di Finanza and the Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate), with the National Anti-Mafia and Counter-Terrorism Directorate, and with the Judicial Authority.

All these national institutions work together to prevent the financial system from being used as a channel to disguise the proceeds of crime as legitimate funds or to finance terrorist activities.

At the same time, the FIU maintains constant contact with its counterparts in other countries, since each State is required to establish its own Financial Intelligence Unit. Through these cooperation channels, the FIU exchanges data and information that are crucial for tracking illicit financial flows, which increasingly cross national borders and involve multiple jurisdictions.

This work requires a high degree of confidentiality, independence, and a strong capacity for cooperation, based on shared objectives and methods.