Bulgaria removed from FATF money-laundering grey list after three years
The global anti-money-laundering watchdog dropped Bulgaria from its list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring. PM Radev says it will bring investment and faster payments.
Archive image · Photo: Bulgarian Presidency / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5 bg (cropped and resized)
Bulgaria has been removed from the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog against money laundering and terrorist financing. The decision was taken on Friday at the body's plenary meeting in Paris. Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced it in an address in the afternoon after being informed by Justice Minister Nikolay Naydenov.
Bulgaria was placed on the list in October 2023 over strategic weaknesses in tackling money laundering and corruption. In June 2026 the FATF found that the country had largely completed its action plan, leaving only an on-site visit to confirm the reforms. According to public broadcaster BNT, Radev said earlier attempts to exit the list had failed for lack of political will or expertise.
Radev said the move would bring more confidence in the country, more investment and jobs, better protection against online and phone scams, and faster cross-border payments. BNT said Bulgarians abroad who send money home would also benefit. The prime minister said the government would keep strengthening its anti-corruption and anti-money-laundering systems so that the gains last.