FIU Latvia uses EEA project opportunities and bolsters knowledge

FIU Latvia receives support for the implementation of the project "Improvement of Employee Knowledge in Combating Money Laundering in Latvia" under the EEA grant co-financed program "International Police Cooperation and Combating Crime". The aim of the project is to improve the skills and knowledge of staff and to strengthen the capacity of the authorities responsible for the supervision of financial institutions, financial intelligence and investigations through various activities such as face-to-face and online training, workshops and conferences.

In 2023, FIU Latvia implemented the following activities through the project:

1. Conference on Crypto Assets: Shaping the Future Framework. The use of virtual assets, the associated risks, opportunities and regulation continue to be a topical issue both internationally and nationally. To provide a common platform for public and private sector representatives to explore the topic of virtual assets, FIU Latvia organized an international conference in Riga on 18 of May this year. The event brought together more than 150 participants from the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Austria, Estonia, Lithuania, Switzerland, and other countries.

2. FIU Latvia employees develop knowledge in anti-money laundering. ACAMS (Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists) is the largest international organization dedicated to advancing the knowledge, skills and competencies of anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing and financial crime detection and prevention professionals. The EEA grant-funded project will provide ACAMS certification to more than 20 FIU Latvia employees.

3. FIU Latvia managers strengthen their knowledge and skills in effective and ethical leadership in a Harvard Kennedy School course. In September and October of this year, The management of FIU Latvia participated in a multi-week training course at the Harvard Kennedy School on "Leadership and Ethics: Moral Leadership in Personal Practice". The course focused on moral leadership skills and principles, public interest decision-making, social responsibility, transparency, and integrity.

4. Head of FIU Latvia improves strategic management knowledge at Harvard. Head of FIU Latvia - Tom Platacis, participated in a training course in Boston, USA, at the Harvard Division of Continuing Education, studying the Strategic Leadership Program. The training provided an opportunity to improve knowledge on essential contemporary management skills - building talented, resilient and effective teams, problem solving, as well as successfully managing the change process in an organization.

5. FIU Latvia employees learn a wide range of skills on an online learning platform. In addition to anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing skills, it is also important to improve general knowledge. Thanks to FIU Latvia's participation in the EEA project, employee of FIU Latvia have the opportunity to participate in a variety of online courses, such as data analysis, leadership, artificial intelligence, communication, finance, and project management.

As part of the project, FIU Latvia will continue to implement a number of knowledge development activities, both in the form of training and conferences, in 2024. More information on the project can be found in the "Projects" section of the FIU Latvia website.

EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 Program "International Police Cooperation and Combating Crime" Project No EEZ/FID/2021/6 "Improvement of Employee Knowledge in Combating Money Laundering in Latvia". Information on the EEA Financial Instrument: www.eeagrants.lv/en/all-programms/. Working together for a secure and competitive Europe!