The Government made that move on September 28, the International Day of Right to Access to Information and in spite of many civil organizations’ warning that suggested solution was not a good one.

One of these civil organizations is the Croatian Journalists’ Association (CJA). Its standpoint is that the Register of actual company owners should be public for journalists as they need it to be able to do their role of informing general public. CJA finds it to be very important, especially when it comes to owners of media companies. Even more, CJA finds it to be necessary for journalists to do their work and to create healthy society.

Therefore CJA finds the Draft to be just opposite to trends in many EU countries.

Even Anamarija Musa, the Commissioner for information, agrees with the CJA. She reminds that some countries like United Kingdom, Netherland, Sweden, France and Slovenia have already adopted laws including possibility for certain data from Register of owners to be publicly accessible. Some have already implemented those regulations and published registers.

CJA alerts Parliament members that adopting Law on prevention of money laundry and terrorism funding with articles that would make impossible for journalists and public to have access to Register of owners would constitute wrong and long-lasting dangerous move.