Bulgaria has received a major positive assessment in its efforts to combat financial crime after implementing all 40 recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), according to a report published by MONEYVAL and announced by the Ministry of Justice.
The development marks a significant milestone in Bulgaria’s long-standing effort to exit the FATF “grey list,” a designation reserved for jurisdictions under increased monitoring due to strategic weaknesses in preventing money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation-related financial risks.
Former Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev, who oversaw key reforms during the Zhelyazkov government, described the outcome as a breakthrough. “Green light for Bulgaria to leave the Grey List for money laundering!” he stated, pointing to what he called extensive changes to the Penal Code carried out in 2025. These reforms, he said, strengthened the legal framework against money laundering, organized crime, corruption, and terrorism financing.
Georgiev added that Bulgaria has now fulfilled “40 out of 40” of the specific FATF recommendations, underscoring what officials present as full technical compliance with international requirements.
