Until now, in order to enhance transparency and fight fraud, information on beneficial ownership has been public.

In a 2022 ruling, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that public access to the EBRD is contrary to Articles 7 (respect for private and family life) and 8 (protection of personal data) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

The conditions of access to the EBRD therefore needed to be modified in order to maintain a balance between privacy and transparency of economic life. This is what the European Anti-Money Laundering Directive 2024/1640 of 31 May 2024 did.

This directive has just been transposed into French law by the law of 30 April 2025 laying down various provisions for adaptation to European Union law in the economic, financial, environmental, energy, transport, health and movement of persons (DDADUE5).

What changes?

Since July 31, 2024, only persons justifying a legitimate interest and a list of authorized entities may have access to all the information contained in the EHR. The DDADUE5 law specifies this list.

Who can access the RBE?

• Persons: they may, after having demonstrated their legitimate interest, access information on the beneficial owners of their potential co-contractors;
• The competent authorities and professionals subject to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism obligations ;
• Journalists, researchers and civil business stakeholders committed to financial transparency;
• The French Anti-Corruption Agency;
• Authorized officials of the Directorate-General for the Treasury and customs officials (when implementing European regulations imposing restrictive measures);
• The European Public Prosecutor's Office;
• The European Anti-Fraud Office;
• The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the European Union Agency for Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (Eurojust) (when providing operational support to national authorities);
• The European Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism Authority;
• The authorities of the Member States of the European Union equivalent to the national authorities;
• The High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life;
• The National Sanctions Commission;
• State officials responsible for the protection of the economic, industrial and scientific interests of the Nation;
• Labor inspectorate control officers and social security agency control officers;
• The Court of Auditors and the regional and territorial chambers of accounts.

How do I access the RBE?

The INPI offers a form request for access to beneficial ownership data for persons with a legitimate interest. This form must be submitted via theINPI with the supporting documents that legitimate interest.

The request for access may also be made to the relevant Registrar.

What information can be found in the EBRD?

As a reminder, the information on beneficial ownership that can be accessed in the Registry of Beneficial Owners is as follows:

• name and trade name;
• pseudonym
• first names;
• month and year of birth;
• country of residence;
• nationality.

Finally, it is also possible to know the nature and extent of the interests held by the beneficial owners in the business (or entity).