European Free Trade Association (EFTA): Liechstenstein Administrative Court referred case on scope of access to beneficial ownership information under anti-money laundering rules to the European Free Trade Association Court (No. VGH 2023/112)

On 15 March 2024, the Administrative Court of Liechtenstein submitted a request for an advisory opinion to the European Free Trade Association Court, addressing the threshold for access to beneficial ownership data under Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing. The appellant had been denied access to register data on the grounds that he failed to demonstrate a legitimate interest sufficiently. The referring court sought clarification on whether individuals whose sole connection to money laundering offences lies in being victims of predicate offences may be considered to have a legitimate interest under the Directive, and if so, whether such interest must be substantiated and to what evidentiary standard.