Business registers keep information on companies, including their legal form, seat, legal representatives and annual accounts, and make this information available to the public. Since businesses are expanding across EU using the opportunities offered by the digital single market, demand for information on companies is growing. Directive 2012/17/EU has set out provisions for interconnection of business registers as a measure required to create a more business-friendly legal and fiscal environment. The system, known as Business Registers Interconnection System (BRIS) became a reality on 8 June 2017.

BRIS connects the business registers of each Member State to a 'European Central Platform'. In addition, BRIS provides a single point of access via the European e-Justice Portal, through which citizens, businesses and public administrations can search for information on companies and their branches opened in other Member States. 

For the interconnection of the national registration system with BRIS, a mechanism developed by the European Commission was implemented, available as open source under the European Union Public Licence (EUPL). The software guarantees the security, delivery and non-resignation of the messages exchanged.

As communicated on 20 February 2020, the Institute of Business Registers and Notaries of the Republic of Portugal is now interconnected.

More information:

https://www.portugal.gov.pt/download-ficheiros/ficheiro.aspx?v=1f69d466-22f3-4597-928c-2a7455a1dc6a

https://ec.europa.eu/cefdigital/wiki/display/CEFDIGITAL/2017/09/19/Business+Register+Interconnection+System