ASF joins over 160 civil society organisations, human rights and environmental defenders, trade unions and activisits to say no to the EU Omnibus proposal!
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 EU Taxonomy Regulation.
The European Union must show leadership in the protection of human rights, environment and climate, and prevent further setbacks to corporate accountability.
Whilst some of the 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.
Ursula von der Leyen runs the risk of undermining ongoing reforms. 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.
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 labor 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.
This backlash against the EU’s sustainability framework comes at a time when business accountability in critically needed.
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.
Backtracking would:
🔴 Risk creating a race to the bottom in value chain standards, increasing exploitation and environmental harm ;
🔴 Reward companies that failed to prepare to comply with these legislations while destabilising countries already implementing these laws ;
🔴 Undermine progress made by the hashtag#EUGreenDeal instead of fostering a race to the top.
We urge President Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission to
✅ Actively protect these EU corporate accountability laws.
✅ Reaffirm the official timeline for their transposition and implementation.
✅ Be fully transparent about the hashtag#Omnibus process.
The EU must lead on the protection of human rights, environment and climate!
