That anonymous shell companies are the vehicle of choice for the corrupt and criminals is no longer a secret. New cases of cross-border corruption and money laundering are reported almost on a weekly basis, where perpetrators often hide behind secretive corporate structures.

The European Union has been lauded for its progress in curbing the abuse of anonymous companies, and rightly so. The bloc was among the first to take serious steps aimed at improving beneficial ownership transparency.

Most notably, in 2015, the 4th EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD) required countries to establish beneficial ownership registers. In 2018, in response to scandals such as the Panama Papers and Paradise Papers, the EU approved the 5th EU AMLD, which contained further measures for enhancing the ability of competent authorities – both inside and outside the EU – to detect and investigate money laundering and financial crime.

The 5th EU AMLD, however, does more than that. Recognising that transparency can be a powerful deterrent, it also sets measures for preventing money laundering and financial crimes. What is more, acknowledging the importance of public scrutiny of company and beneficial ownership data to preserving trust in the integrity of business transactions and of the financial system, it requires countries to open up their beneficial ownership registers to all members of the public.

If you want to know more, you can access to the original post, published by Transparency International.