“Combating money laundering requires continuity, experience and international cooperation, and Matis Mäeker has demonstrated that he is capable of leading this field effectively,” said Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi. “For the criminal world, his continuation in this role is very bad news.”
The Minister of Finance submitted the proposal to the Government following an open competition organised by the Top Civil Service Excellence Centre’s selection committee in accordance with the Civil Service Act. According to the committee, Matis Mäeker meets the requirements for the position of Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit and possesses the experience and competence necessary to fulfil the role.
“Financial intelligence units play a significant role in detecting hidden crime. This includes sanctions evasion, influence operations, corruption and other crimes often carried out by organised criminals. In the coming years, the Financial Intelligence Unit must become even more effective, as criminals increasingly use artificial intelligence and modern methods to launder money. The guarantee of efficiency is legal clarity regarding the tools at our disposal,” said Matis Mäeker.
Matis Mäeker has led the Financial Intelligence Unit since 2021, when he began to reduce high risk in the sector of virtual asset service providers, and made an important contribution to the positive outcome of the international MONEYVAL evaluation. Mäeker is a member of the highest decision-making body of the umbrella organisation of financial intelligence units and a member of the General Board of the EU Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA). Previously, he served as a member and Vice-Chair of the Bureau of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL). Mäeker holds a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Tartu.
The Financial Intelligence Unit operates as an independent government agency under the Ministry of Finance and its main task is to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing and to ensure the transparency and security of the financial system.
