Access to EU public registers ends : ‘We are going back to era of corporate secrecy’

Lundi 28 novembre 2022

Access to EU public registers ends : ‘We are going back to era of corporate secrecy’

Campaigners say invalidation of member states’ databases will hinder efforts to tackle abuse of ownership rules

Kate Beioley in London 5 hours ago

Until last week, anyone wanting to know the ultimate owner of an EU-based company could consult databases held by member states. This public access has helped expose myriad abuses, including by a Czech prime minister and a Lebanese central bank governor.

But, in a ruling last week in a case centred on privacy and data protection, the Court of Justice of the EU has in effect shut such registers to public view.

Transparency campaigners described Tuesday’s decision as a surprising and drastic regression in efforts to tackle money laundering and the abuse of shell companies. The move is likely to have a wider chilling effect, they added.

Privacy lawyers, in contrast, hailed the ruling as protection against the abuse of individuals’ rights. Lire la suite.

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