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 Latvia
Summary: You Must Pay to Access Information Unless You Work for the Government Request sent to Ministry of Justice Outcome of request Information refused. Time taken to respond 23 working days (The deadline is 15 working days) Reason for refusal Must pay for access. Another law overrides FOI law.
Request Process in Gibraltar
Summary: No Freedom of Information Law and You Must Pay For Access Request sent to Companies House Gibraltar (Click here) Outcome of request Information refused. Time taken to respond 25 working days from original request (No FOI law in Gibraltar) Reason for refusal Must pay for access. No access to
Request Process in Czech Republic
Summary: Access to the register is improved, but names of shareholders are not accessible. Request sent to Ministry of Justice Ministry of Industry and Business Outcome of request Ministry of Justice: Partial Information, following a series of appealsMinistry of Industry and Business: Information refused. This decision is currently under appeal
Request Process in Macedonia
Summary: Institutions Can Refuse Free Access to Information to Protect Their Commercial Interests Request sent to Central Register of Macedonia (Click here) Outcome of request Information refused. Time taken to respond 5 working days to receive a postal response. However, they phoned us same day we sent the request. (Deadline
Request Process in Liechtenstein
Summary: The Information Act Is Subordinate to the Company Register Laws Request sent to Ministry of Justice - Commercial Register Division (Click here) Outcome of request Information refused. Time taken to respond 35 days (deadline is 14 calendar days) Reason for refusal Only need to answer requests for individual records.