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 Cyprus
Summary: No Right to Request, No Right to Receive Request sent to Department of the Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver (Click here). Outcome of request Information refused. Time taken to respond 9 working days (no official deadline as there is no freedom of information law) Reason for refusal No
Request Process in Armenia
Summary: Younger Laws on Fees Prevail over Right to Information Request sent to State Register of Legal Entities (Click here). Outcome of request Information refused. Time taken to respond 3 days (deadline is 5 working days). Reason for refusal Must pay for access. Another law overrides FOI law. The
Request Process in the United Kingdom
Summary: Information That Must Be Paid For Is Exempt Under the Freedom of Information Act Request sent to Companies House (Click here) Outcome of request Information refused. Time taken to respond 7 working days (Deadline is 20 working days) Reason for refusal No need to answer if info is already