Vanuatu Watch by AJC
EU Council on 9 Oct 2026 removed Panama and Vietnam from the non-cooperative jurisdictions list; Vanuatu retained, with the Council acknowledging improvements but citing unresolved concerns.
kpmg.com, agenceurope.eu, news.bloombergtax.com, eulawlive.com, brusselsmorning.com, www.scmp.com, ieu-monitoring.com
US State Department 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report upgrades Vanuatu to Tier 2 from Tier 2 Watch List, citing new case-management and NRM work — serious US-government assessment of Vanuatu policy.
Daily Post: President Vurobaravu calls for stronger government services to deliver the National Sustainable Development Plan within four years — substantive governance and development coverage.
PACNEWS: Vanuatu lodged application with the International Court of Justice seeking recognition of its climate-action claims, with Pacific and SPREP acknowledgments — substantive foreign-policy and legal development.
RNZ: Vanuatu hits back at pro-France French MP Metzdorf over Matthew and Hunter islands and New Caledonia comments — substantive sovereignty coverage but tangential to financial/economic themes.
Daily Maverick retrospective on South Africa’s Oct 2025 FATF grey-list exit and reform journey — enforcement-climate signal without affecting Vanuatu.
PACNEWS: PM Napat calls for a united ambitious Pacific position on climate change ahead of COP31 — substantive Vanuatu foreign policy but tangential to financial/economic themes.
PACNEWS: Vanuatu raises West Papua human-rights concerns, Kanaky decolonisation and France/ICJ jurisdiction at UN General Assembly — substantive Vanuatu foreign policy.
48 items screened out this week
- [EU blacklists] EU Tax Haven Blacklist: Panama Cleared, Anguilla Warned, 8 Remain
- [EU blacklists] The EU removes Panama and Vietnam from its tax list | Demócrata
- [EU blacklists] Panama Celebrates Removal From European Union Tax Blacklist
- [EU blacklists] Panama and Vietnam removed from the EU’s blacklist of tax havens
- [EU blacklists] EU removes Panama and Vietnam from tax blacklist but keeps reform monitoring - PakTribune
- [EU blacklists] EU removes Panama from tax haven blacklist | Macau Business
- [FATF] Sao Tome Citizenship by Investment 2026 — Cost & Requirements
- [FATF] 10 best countries to register or open a company online in 2026
- [FATF] Forex License In Anjouan: Cost, Requirements & Setup 2026
- [FATF] Vanuatu Company Register Data & UBO | Zavia
- [Vanuatu CBI] Требования программы гражданства Вануату за инвестиции в 2026 году
- [Tax havens] EU removes Panama from tax haven blacklist
- [Tax havens] EU removes Panama from tax haven blacklist - Lebanon News
- [Tax havens] EU removes Panama from tax haven blacklist | FMT
- [VFSC] PalOption Review: Why I Would Not Deposit Money With This Platform
- [VFSC] AI Trading Bots in 2026: Regulation & Risk for Brokers
- [VFSC] The Day Washington Sanctioned a Court - The Mt Kenya Times
- [Financial Industry] Vietnam AWS Compliance Center - Financial Services for Cloud - AWS
- [Financial Industry] Is Deriv Regulated and Safe in 2026
- [Financial Industry] Is Scandinavian Capital Markets Regulated and Safe in 2026
- [Economy] GDP growth (annual %) - Fragile and conflict affected situations, Vanuatu | Data
- [Economy] Goods Data Inquiries Goods Media Inquiries Services Data and Media Inquiries
- [Global media] Our place in the sun: Australia’s uptake of solar panels is already through the roof. How much higher could it get? | Solar power | The Guardian
- [Global media] Australia and Turkey criticised for hosting UN climate conference while embracing coal | Cop31 | The Guardian
- [Global media] Latest news from around the world | The Guardian
- [Global media] Isaias moves inland as a post-tropical cyclone and Simon strengthens to Category 4 near Mexico’s coast | AP News
- [Global media] Vietnam mobilizes troops after heavy rains trigger flash floods and raise risks of landslides
- [Global media] New spate of stabbings, overdoses and fires at Australian immigration detention centres run by ICE-linked US prison firm | Australian immigration and asylum | The Guardian
- [Global media] Yemen civil war: what sparked latest escalation and who is involved? | Yemen | The Guardian
- [Global media] ‘Smarmy management consultant’: Angus Taylor criticised by Pauline Hanson and heckled at CPAC event | Australian politics | The Guardian
- [Global media] US imposes sanctions on ICC, hours after former judge Pillay wins Nobel peace prize – as it happened | Nobel peace prize | The Guardian
- [Regional media] Vanuatu women win MSG Cup title in tribute to sea tragedy victims | RNZ
- [Regional media] Vanuatu women make history, men finish as runners-up | Sports | dailypost.vu
- [Regional media] PACNEWS TWO, 08 OCTOBER 2026 - Islands Business
- [Regional media] PACNEWS TWO, 09 OCTOBER 2026 - Islands Business
- [FATF grey list] 2013 Procedures for the FATF Fourth Round of AML/CFT Mutual Evaluations
- [FATF news] High-Risk Countries and FATF Lists: The Complete Guide (2026)
- [OECD Global Forum] TRANSPARENCY EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON REQUEST
- [OECD Global Forum] EU removes Panama from its list of tax havens
- [EU tax blacklist] EU removes Panama from tax haven blacklist | Luxembourg Times
- [Commentary FR] Dix ans après le scandale des Panama Papers, le petit pays d’Amérique centrale quitte la liste noire des paradis fiscaux de l’Union européenne
- [Commentary FR] BFM TV 🔵 Dix ans après le scandale des Panama Papers, le petit pays d’Amérique centrale quitte la liste noire des paradis fiscaux de l’Union européenne
- [Commentary FR] Des associations françaises sont soupçonnées d’avoir financé le Hamas en cryptomonnaies | France
- [Commentary FR] La UE retira a Panamá y Vietnam de su lista negra de paraísos fiscales
- [Commentary FR] Venta de pasaportes argentinos por inversiones, una jugada riesgosa - LA NACION
- [Commentary FR] “Pagan la ciudadanía y compran tierras como argentinos”: la oposición alertó por el nuevo plan del Gobierno | Contexto Tucuman
- [Commentary FR] Mulino celebra la salida de Panamá de la ‘lista negra’ de la UE de paraísos fiscales - Yahoo Noticias
- [Commentary FR] Argentina pone precio a su pasaporte: quiénes podrán comprarlo — El Monterizo
Published by AJC Chartered Professional Accountants & Business Advisors