On 8 November 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced she would introduce a proposal to amend three key pillars of the European Green Deal through an Omnibus law: the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the Taxonomy Regulation.
As members of civil society, human rights and environmental defenders, trade unions and climate activists, we call on the European Commission to actively protect these EU corporate accountability laws, reaffirm the official timeline for their transposition and implementation, and be fully transparent about the Omnibus process.
The European Union must show leadership in the protection of human rights, environment and climate, and prevent further setbacks to corporate accountability. The ongoing backlash against the EU’s sustainability framework comes at a time when business accountability is critically needed. Whilst some of the world’s biggest companies distributed record dividends in 2023, their investments fall far short of what is needed to transition to sustainable and resilient business models. Around the world, European companies, through their complex supply chains, continue to impact on a range of human rights and fundamental freedoms including labour rights, freedom from forced labour and the right to a clean, healthy and safe environment.
Yet, despite clear calls from Climate Commissioner Hoekstra and Executive Vice-President Ribera to protect the legacy of the European Green Deal – and a commitment from Justice Commissioner McGrath “to ensure a timely and effective implementation” of the CSDDD during his confirmation hearing – President Ursula von der Leyen runs the risk of undermining key protections by forcing a re-opening of the files with the Omnibus law. This is generating tremendous uncertainty for countries that have already started their transposition process, and it will reward companies who failed to prepare to comply with these legislations.
A race to the bottom in value chain standards will risk increasing pressure on European manufacturing. It will also lead to more exploitation of people and environmental harm across countries. Businesses should be held accountable for their responsibility to respect human rights across their operations and supply chains.
Several countries outside the EU have already introduced or are in the process of introducing mandatory human rights due diligence laws, or have more specific legislation related to modern slavery or child labour issues. These include: The United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Australia, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil, Japan and Canada.
The European Union is founded on the values of democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Those principles are enshrined in the Treaty on EU and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The EU should not undo the progress that has already been achieved with the European Green Deal, but encourage a race to the top and protect human rights, the environment and climate; all while providing stakeholders with a level playing field through clear expectations, legal certainty and timely and comprehensive guidelines on implementation.
Let us not forget the assessment made by the previous Commission under Ursula von der Leyen’s presidency: the EU’s competitiveness lies in its ability to provide a stable regulatory environment under the European Green Deal, focused on sustainability and the green transition - all of which are increasingly demanded by global consumers.
We therefore urge European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to:
• Uphold EU corporate accountability legislation including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the Taxonomy Regulation.
• Adhere to the current timeline for the transposition and implementation of these essential laws, and provide timely and clear guidelines for compliance.
• As a matter of urgency, clarify the Commission’s intentions and be fully transparent about the rationale, scope, timeline, legislative process, impact assessment as well as the consultation period related to the proposed omnibus.
Signatories
11.11.11
ACV Puls
ACT Alliance EU
Accountability Counsel
AchACT
ActionAid France
ActionAid International
Acción Ecologica
Alianza de Organizaciones por los Derechos Humanos del Ecuador
Alliance for Sustainable Regional Development (SRD4BG)
Amnesty International
Anukatham Unorganised Workers Union
AnsvarligFremtid, Denmark
Anti-Slavery International
Arisa
Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de España
Asociación por la Paz y los Derechos Humanos Taula per Mèxic
Avocats Sans Frontières
BankTrack
BLOOM
Both ENDS
Broederlijk Delen
Bulgarian Foundation for Business and Human Rights
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Business and Human Rights Association
Campaña Ropa Limpia - Setem
Campagna Abiti Puliti
Campagna Impresa 2030
Caritas Europa
Centre for the Politics of Emancipation
Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos “Segundo Montes Mozo S.J.” (CSMM)
CGSLB (Liberal Trade Union - Belgium)
Clean Clothes Campaign
CliMates
Climate Action Network Europe
ClientEarth
CNCD - 11.11.11
Collectif Ethique sur l’Etiquette
Commerce Equitable France
Compassion in World Farming
Conectando Derechos
CorA-Netzwerk für Unternehmensverantwortung
Corporate Accountability Lab
Deutsche Umwelthilfe (Environmental Action Germany)
Diakonia
DKA Austria
Eetti (Pro Ethical Trade Finland)
ECONOMY FOR THE COMMON GOOD
Ekumenická akademie (Ecumenical Academy)
Entraide & Fraternité
Entrepueblos/Entrepobles/Entrepobos/Herriarte
Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF)
EU LAT Network
European Coalition for Corporate Justice
European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
European Trade Union Confederation
Fair Finance International
FAIR
Fair Trade Advocacy Office
Fairtrade International
FEBEA - European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers
FEMNET e.V.
FIDH
Finnwatch
Focus Association for Sustainable Development
FOUR PAWS International
Frank Bold
Friends of the Earth Europe
Friends of the Earth Ireland
Fundación Libera Contra la Trata de Personas y la Esclavitud en Todas sus Formas
Fundacja Kupuj Odpowiedzialnie
Global Justice Group
Global Witness
GLOBAL 2000 - Friends of the Earth Austria
Human Rights Watch
Initiative Lieferkettengesetz
Initiative pour un devoir de vigilance Luxembourg
Informationsstelle Peru
INKOTA-netzwerk
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Institute for Health and Environment
Instituto de Estudios Ecologistas del Tercer Mundo
International Corporate Accountability Roundtable
Investor Alliance for Human Rights
Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights
Jamaa Resource Initiatives
La Coordinadora de ONGD (Spain)
La Strada International
Les Amis de la Terre - Belgique asbl
Les Amis de la Terre France
Madre Brava
Maquila Solidarity Network
Max Havelaar France / Fairtrade
Milieudefensie - Friends of the Earth Netherlands
Mighty Earth
Movimento Consumatori APS
Mouvement écologique (Luxembourg)
NaZemi
NeSoVe
No Business With Genocide
Notre Affaire à Tous
Novi sindikat, Croatia
OECD Watch
Open Gate-La Strada
Orion Grid for Leadership and Authority
Oxfam
Oyu Tolgoi Watch
Peace Brigades International
PIC - Legal Center for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment
PICUM
Plataforma Chilena de la Sociedad Civil en Derechos Humanos y Empresas
Plataforma por Empresas Responsables
Polish Institute for Human Rights and Business
PowerShift
RAIN (Rainforest Alliance)
Reclaim Finance
Red europea de Comités Oscar Romero (SICSAL_Euroopa)
Reds
Resource Matters
Responsible Sourcing Network
Rivers without Boundaries Mongolia
Romero Initiative (CIR)
Schone Kleren Campagne (Clean Clothes Campaign Netherlands)
Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
Secretaría Medio Ambiente Y Transición Justa CUT Chile
Sherpa
ShareAction
Social Awareness and Voluntary Education
SOLIDAR
Solidaridad
SOLIFONDS, Switzerland
Solsoc
SOMO
SÜDWIND e.V., Germany
Südwind, Austria
Swedwatch
Swedish Society for Nature Conservation
The Circle
The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU)
The Human Trafficking Legal Center
Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland SASK
Transport & Environment
Trócaire
Turkmen.news
Uganda Consortium on Corporate Accountability
Umanotera
UNI Global Union
UTGLAWU, Uganda
Uyghur Human Rights Project
Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project
Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation
Vredesactie
Water Witness International
We Effect
WeWorld
Werkstatt Ökonomie
Worker Rights Consortium
World Benchmarking Alliance
WSM
ZERO
Contact details
MEDIA - Jade Tenwick | jade.tenwick@oxfam.org
POLICY - Maria Bardolet Dilme | maria.bardolet@oxfam.org
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