The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has just delivered its judgement on two joint cases concerning access to beneficial ownership information (cases C-684/24 and C-685/24).
This decision is highly relevant for FEBIS and represents an important legal clarification for Business Information Providers for three main reasons:
1. Confirmation of the Legitimate Interest Principle
The Court confirms that public access to beneficial ownership information, where a legitimate interest is demonstrated, is compatible with Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights
and proportionate to the objective of preventing money laundering and terrorist financing. This reinforces the legitimacy of Business Information Providers (BIPs) as key contributors to
transparency and trust in the market.
2. Support for Equal Access to Official Data Sources
The ruling confirms that access to beneficial ownership information can be justified despite privacy concerns, provided it serves legitimate transparency and anti-money laundering objectives.
This supports the ability of BIPs to continue accessing reliable official data sources under fair conditions.
3. Greater Legal Certainty for Digital and Cross-Border Services
By confirming that the transparency obligations established under the AML framework are sufficiently precise, proportionate, and legally justified, the judgment provides additional legal
certainty for companies and trusted intermediaries operating across borders and relying on verified corporate information. This is an important step toward strengthening transparency,
interoperability, and trust within the Digital Single Market.
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Source: ECJ
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