Recital 40

(40) In order to limit interferences with the right to respect for private life and to protection of personal data, access to beneficial ownership information held in central registers by the public should be conditional upon the demonstration of a legitimate interest. Divergent approaches by Member States regarding the verification that such a legitimate interest exists could hamper the harmonised implementation of the AML/CFT framework and the preventive purpose for which such access by members of the public is allowed. It is therefore necessary to devise a framework for the recognition and verification of legitimate interest at Union level, in full respect of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the ‘Charter’). Where a legitimate interest exists, the public should be able to access information on beneficial ownership of legal entities and legal arrangements. Legitimate interest should be presumed for certain categories of the public. Access on the basis of a legitimate interest should not be conditional upon the legal status or form of the person requesting access.

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Source: EUR-Lex CELLAR · retrieved 2026-09-04 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.