21St Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Illicit trade, trade-based money laundering, adversarial foreign investments, adversarial threats
Honorable Andreas Frank asserted that after 75 years of relative peace, Europe is once again confronted with war due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He cautioned that democratic institutions are declining globally, and democracies are now grappling with an escalating challenge from autocratic regimes. According to Frank, the struggle is fundamentally centered around safeguarding democracy, the rule of law, and a rules-based international order against authoritarian influence.
Frank also expressed reservations about the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia, noting that previous sanctions following the annexation of Crimea had yielded limited results. He emphasized the necessity for enhanced transparency, stringent financial oversight, and the freezing or seizure of assets belonging to oligarchs and corrupt individuals. He highlighted global issues with corruption and money laundering—including in nations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Guatemala and underscored the significance of bolstering international cooperation through organizations like the Financial Action Task Force to combat illicit finance and protect democratic systems.
