In our area of activity, we cooperate with counterpart entities and others, national or foreign, through protocols, agreements or other legal instruments of cooperation. We also ensure representation in international organisations whose activity fall within the scope of IRN’s mission.
European Land Registration Association
The ELRA - European Land Registry Association (ELRA) aims to protect and reinforce the importance of land register in Europe, in cooperation with EU institutions, on property and property rights as a key tool towards progress and security within international legal trade.
The rules governing land register are determined by each country’s legislation in terms of property location, nonetheless, current developments within EU law should take into account the vital role of these legislative systems, which constitute a key instrument for the proper functioning of free movement of persons and capital and freedom of establishment.
Land register is also a valuable tool for achieving environmental policy objectives and strengthening judicial cooperation within EU, where immovable property is concerned.
ELRA also promotes knowledge sharing between Europe’s different land register systems by facilitating close cooperation with other European institutions.
LEI Code
The Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) originates from a G20 recommendation to the Financial Stability Board (FSB) aimed at creating a unique and universal identifier for all legal entities being parties to financial transactions, namely as counterparties.
The Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) is an alphanumeric 20-digit unique identifier, which allows international entities acting as counterparties to financial transactions to be identified.
Pursuant to Decree-Law 202/2015 of 17 September, IRN undertakes all international commitments related to the LEI project, in particular tasks pertaining the issue, renewal and portability of the identifier in Portugal.
IMOLA Project
IRN is actively participating in the Interoperability Model for Land Registers (IMOLA) in order to create a standard template for submitting national land register information at European level, optimising the freedoms of the single market and, in particular, implement the certificate of succession, requiring the identification of property, in particular immovable property, which constitutes the estate of the deceased.
IMOLA was established to promote a template for background information listed in the land register system, so as to make it more transparent and easier to understand.
BRIS Project
IRN has been actively involved in defining and implementing legislative and technological measures to support the implementation of this project within the Portuguese commercial register.
BRIS aims to implement an electronic communication system between Member States’ registers and the method to provide information to individual users, in a standardised format, using identical content and interoperable technology, referred to as ‘Register Interconnection System’. This allows access to information on registries of companies and branches incorporated in another Member State, guaranteeing updated information.
The European Central Platform consists of a centralised set of information technology instruments and services, forming a common interface, to be used by all national registers.
EUCARIS Project
IRN is involved in defining and implementing legislative and technological measures to support the implementation of this project within the Portuguese vehicle register.
EUCARIS aims at implementing conditions required for cross-border exchange of information related to road traffic violations in Member States of the European Union and in pursuance of the implementation of Directive 2015/413/UE of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2015. The EUCARIS platform is used to exchange vehicle-related data.
GESTDOC Project
IRN is one of the national partners involved in defining goals, action documents and in implementing actions towards the aims set, including ‘on the spot’ verification of implementation conditions.
The GESTDOC Project, aadopted by the European Union in 2018, focuses on migration management and conflict prevention mechanisms, establishing secure and enhanced identification chains, contributing to increased levels of security. The project focuses on three outputs:
- identity chains, including the issue of identity and travel documents;
- improved border security control; and
- regional and inter-regional cooperation.
This project aims to benefit Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau and is managed by Camões - Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua.
International Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
IRN is represented in the Coordinating Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, established by Resolution 88/2015, whose tasks are, inter alia, to propose laws, regulations and operational measures required to ensure, for example, that the Portuguese State complies with international obligations deriving from European Union and international law on preventing and combating money laundering and terrorist financing. In this context, IRN is part of a working group studying new FATF standards while also preparing Portugal’s evaluation.
FATF complies with the guidelines laid down by Directive 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on preventing the use of the financial system for money laundering or terrorist financing purposes.
Expert Group on Interconnection of Registers of Wills
IRN participates in e-Justice working group for developing interconnection mechanisms of registers of wills in order to encourage Member States to set up central registers of wills and exchange information by electronic means.
European Judicial Network for Civil and Commercial Matters (EJN)
IRN participates in EJN’s national activities by responding to requests for information submitted by the national representative and other national members, having committed to, together with magistrates and scholars, prepare a Register Guidebook.
UNECE Committee on Housing and Land Management
The UNECE Committee on Housing and Land Management promotes compact, inclusive, resilient, smart and sustainable cities, energy efficient and adequate housing, transparent and efficient land use and property register. Work is based on United Nations policies on housing and urban development, including the Geneva UN Charter on Sustainable Housing and Strategy for Sustainable Housing and Regional Planning 2014-2020.
IRN contributes to the Committee’s work on property register.
Cooperation with Portuguese-speaking Countries (PALOP and East Timor)
Cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries, in particular with counterparts from Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Angola, East Timor and Brazil, takes the form of providing know-how and technical support in order to strengthen the institutional capacity of these entities and train human resources in the register areas, in theoretical and practical aspects, and in cooperation with other Justice bodies organising and hosting meetings and forums for debating register-related matters.
IRN’s connection to Portuguese-speaking countries and to national citizen communities is vital to consolidate this institute’s international positioning and contribute to Portugal’s cultural promotion.