The changing scope of ownership transparency and its relevance to national security
Azure Forum Strategic Insight 013/2025
By Alexander Chance, Head of Policy & Research, Transparency International Ireland
Recent analysis examines the current state of ownership transparency across Europe, and how this is likely to change as a result of the EU’s latest anti-money laundering package. But why is this important, and what are the domestic implications beyond technical compliance with new anti-money laundering rules? In the context of increasing hybrid threats to liberal democracies such as Ireland, understanding who controls and benefits from high-value assets and financial structures is central not only to combating criminal money laundering, but also to wider national security – and must be prioritised as such.