Mr. Frank De Saer: Transparency as driver for Opening Belgium Company Register

The Belgian enterprise register (Banque-Carrefour des Entreprises – BCE/Kruispuntbank van Ondernemingen – KBO) is the authentic source for all company information in Belgium. The legal framework governing the register was recently revised, also in order to increase the transparency of the register’s information and allow the re-use of the data. The updated version of the legal framework will for example allow the BCE/KBO to:

• offer a free set of open data;
• show more information on the Public Search website (f.e. legal situations of an enterprise) and enlarge the search possibilities;
• offer public search webservices

This should make it possible for companies and individuals to develop applications, having a positive effect on the economy in general. The new legal framework should enter into force on the 9th of May 2014.