OACPS concerned over closure of diplomatic missions’ bank accounts

The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, OACPS, asserted on Tuesday that it was not seeking “exceptional treatment”, but nonetheless called on Belgium and the European Union “to find practical solutions to enable diplomatic missions to continue to access adequate financial services and perform their functions”.

In a statement, the 79-member OACPS said some of its members accredited to Belgium or the EU “have, since 2021, been confronted with the closure of their bank accounts” by Belgium baking authorities. The group did not name the affected OACPS countries.

“The closure of these accounts causes enormous difficulties that affect the proper functioning of the diplomatic missions concerned and disrupts the fulfilment of their mandate, as stipulated by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” the OACPS said.

Approaches made to the Belgian political and monetary authorities and to the EU have so far failed to resolve the issue, it said.

“The Belgian authorities have indicated that the relationship between banks and their customers is a private matter and that they cannot intervene in the matter. However, discussions have been initiated with the Belgian Federation of the Financial Sector – Febelfin – and are ongoing with a view to finding solutions.”

The OACPS said that the information available to date indicates that the closure of the bank accounts resulted from the application of European Union law on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), under which regulated credit and financial institutions are subject to strict rules that require them to conduct enhanced customer due diligence.

“The EU, through its policy on AML/CFT, is a stakeholder in this problem and the OACPS calls on it to become more involved in finding a solution,” the group said.

“It is noteworthy that the Kingdom of Belgium, as host country, has a responsibility under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to ensure the smooth functioning of diplomatic missions accredited to the Kingdom. The OACPS also urges the European Council and the European Parliament to address this issue in the context of the 2021 Spring Package on AML/CFT, currently under examination, in order to find a mutually satisfactory solution.”

The group added that the diplomatic missions are concerned about the reputational damage arising from their inability to conduct the necessary financial transactions in a timely and transparent manner and that, following the recently concluded 114th OACPS session, it has “entrusted the Committee of Ambassadors to prioritise the finding of a mutually agreeable solution” for the banks and the diplomatic missions affected.

– CMC