BUSINESS TRANSPARENCY
Companies operating in the public sphere should be accountable for their actions and impacts on human rights and the environment, and in order to achieve this, transparency is essential.
» Through legislation: The European Union, for example, has adopted a series of legislation that requires companies in specific sectors to report on their impacts and activities. Find out more here » Through the fundamental right to information: Access to information is a fundamental human right and therefore it cannot be violated by any private actor. However, private actors not yet obliged to respond to freedom of information requests; except for in South Africa.
» Business Transparency News: We keep an eye on corporate transparency legislation.
» Company Ownership Transparency: We use access to information laws to test accessibility of corporate information in practice and to push for improved transparency.
BUSINESS TRANSPARENCY NEWS
Request Process in Norway
Summary: Administrative Silence - No Response to Our Request Request sent to Brønnøysund Register Centre (Click here) Outcome of request Administrative silence. Time taken to respond N/A (Deadline is “without undue delay”) Reason for refusal N/A (No response received). On 4 November 2013, Access Info sent a request to
Request Process in Montenegro
Summary: If Information Is Already Available Online, There Is No Obligation to Facilitate Further Access Request sent to Central Registry of Companies (CRPS) Commission for Securities (CfS) Outcome of request Central Registry of Companies (CRPS): Information Refused Commission for Securities (CfS): Information Refused Time taken to respond Central Registry of
Request Process in Moldova
Summary: You Must Pay For Access to the Company Register Information Request sent to State Chamber of Registration (Click here) Outcome of request Information refused. Time taken to respond 6 working days (Deadline is 15 working days) Reason for refusal Must pay for access. On 14 August 2013, Access Info
Request Process in Malta
Summary: Information That Is Available For a Fee Is Excluded From the Freedom of Infomation Act Request sent to Financial Services Authority (Click here) Outcome of request Information refused Time taken to respond 1 day for initial response (Deadline is 20 working days) Reason for refusal FOI exceptions applied to
Request Process in Lithuania
Summary: You Need to Pay For Access - The Data is Sold at Cost-Price to Cover the Running Costs of the Register Request sent to Centre of Registers (Click here) Outcome of request Information Refused Time taken to respond 1 working day (Deadline is 20 working days) Reason for refusal