Greek banks and businesses must move quickly to prepare for sweeping European Union anti-money laundering rules that take effect next year, experts warned at a financial crime conference in Athens.
The EU's Anti-Money Laundering Regulation will apply from July 10, 2027.
A year later, the bloc's new Anti-Money Laundering Authority, based in Frankfurt, is expected to begin directly supervising selected high-risk financial institutions, while national regulators keep a central role.
Participants at Deloitte's third Financial Crime Symposium said companies should assess where they fall short of the new requirements and draw up adjustment plans.
They also said firms will need to show their controls actually work in practice, detecting suspicious activity and supporting timely decisions.
Artificial intelligence could help with investigations, document processing and transaction monitoring, speakers said. But they stressed that human oversight remains essential and that companies are responsible for the technology they use.
The rules will also reach sectors beyond banking, including payments, insurance, real estate, gambling and the art and antiquities trade.
"Preparing for the new European framework requires clear priorities, reliable data and controls that work effectively in practice," said Alexis Hatzipavlou, a partner at Deloitte Greece.
Mr. Hatzipavlou called it a chance for organizations to strengthen their resilience and the trust of clients.