In March 2026, the Federal Council of Switzerland approved its inaugural comprehensive strategy aimed at tackling money laundering and terrorist financing.
The newly adopted initiative introduces an effective, risk-based approach to preventing financial crimes, consolidating strategies from various offices involved in Switzerland’s defense framework. It serves as a unified reference for coordinated national action.
Main Objectives and Actions
The strategy highlights several key areas of focus over the upcoming years. One major initiative is the implementation of a transparency register, which has been approved by Parliament. Authorities are also planning to develop practical tools for criminal prosecution and enhance supervisory capabilities.
Additional improvements to existing data infrastructure are planned, alongside the preparation of Switzerland’s third national risk assessment. This process aims to more effectively identify emerging risks associated with money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF). Strengthening cooperation remains a central theme across federal units, between public authorities and the private sector, and within the private sector itself.
The strategy also addresses asset recovery, emphasizing the need for continuous adaptation of existing instruments and approaches in this area. It is primarily directed at the offices and authorities that make up the coordinating group on combating ML, TF, and proliferation financing (CGMF), an interagency body responsible for aligning Switzerland’s response to financial crime.
Integration with Broader National Goals
The AML/CFT strategy is closely linked with Switzerland’s national anti-organized crime strategy, which was adopted by the Federal Council at the end of 2025. Together, these frameworks reflect an effort to coordinate a comprehensive response to financial crimes that encompass both domestic enforcement and international obligations.
Switzerland’s financial sector is regularly monitored by international bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which evaluates member jurisdictions on their AML/CFT compliance. The new strategy underscores the Federal Council’s commitment to maintaining and developing Switzerland’s standing within this framework, extending its focus to include proliferation financing in addition to the traditional categories of ML and TF.
By providing a clear and public roadmap for the first time, the Federal Council aims to enhance coordination among national measures, foster a shared understanding of financial crime risks, and reinforce Switzerland’s commitment to combating illicit financial flows both domestically and internationally.
