You're browsing our English site, so by default we are only showing content in English. If you'd prefer to view all available content regardless of language, please change this switch.
You're browsing our English site, so by default we are only showing content in English. If you'd prefer to view all available content regardless of language, please change this switch.
"Rollback des European Green Deal? Omnibus-Verordnung droht EU-Lieferkettenrichtlinie auszuhöhlen," 13. Februar 2025
Die EU-Kommission hat für den 26. Februar 2025 eine sogenannte Omnibus-Verordnung angekündigt, um zentrale Projekte des Green Deal zu „vereinfachen“. Tatsächlich droht jedoch ein radikaler Kahlschlag, insbesondere bei der EU-Lieferkettenrichtlinie, auf Grundlage einer Streichliste des Bundesverbandes der Deutschen Industrie (BDI) und anderer Wirtschaftslobbyverbände. Dies zeigt ein neues Briefing, das die Initiative Lieferkettengesetz heute veröffentlicht.
Bereits am 8. November hatte Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen eine „Vereinfachung“ der EU-Lieferkettenrichtlinie (CSDDD), der Richtlinie zur Nachhaltig-keitsberichterstattung und der Taxonomie-Verordnung angekündigt. Dabei gehe es um die Reduzierung „überlappender Berichtspflichten“, „ohne den korrekten Inhalt des Gesetzes zu verändern“, so von der Leyen. Spätestens seit Veröffentlichung des Wachstumskompass steht jedoch zu befürchten, dass die Kommissionspräsidentin diese Zusage brechen könnte.
Wie das neue Briefing der Initiative Lieferkettengesetz zeigt, haben deutsche, französische und italienische Wirtschaftsverbände eine umfassende Streichliste vorgelegt, welche die EU-Lieferkettenrichtlinie vollständig aushöhlen und wirkungslos machen würde. Der federführende EU-Kommissar Valdis Dombrovskis plane – gegen den erklärten Willen des eigentlich zuständigen Justizkommissars Michael McGrath – eine grundlegende Überarbeitung der CSDDD, die sich an dieser Streichliste orientiere. Ob die Kommissionspräsidentin ihm folgt, wird am 26. Februar mit Spannung erwartet.
Die sozialdemokratischen und grünen Fraktionen haben sich bereits unmissverständlich gegen eine Öffnung der CSDDD ausgesprochen. Die Europäische Volkspartei (EVP) unter der Führung von Manfred Weber (CSU) spricht sich hingegen für eine zweijährige Aufschiebung und Überarbeitung der Richtlinie aus. Dafür wäre sie im Europäischen Parlament jedoch auf die Unterstützung rechtsextremer Fraktionen angewiesen.
In a statement, small and medium-sized German enterprises (SMEs) call for an adjustment of the Supply Chain Act to align with the European regulations adopted in 2024, ensuring legal certainty, avoiding unnecessary burdens, and effectively implementing human rights and environmental protection.
The due diligence approach allows human rights and environmental risks to be assessed in a contextualized manner. Behind what is criticized as a “bureaucratic” approach, there is therefore far-reaching trust in companies, the authors argue.
The ninth Human Rights Report of the German Institute for Human Rights covers topics such as the exclusion of people with disabilities in the labour market, exploitative working conditions for migrant workers and the human rights responsibility of companies.
Textile discounter KiK has been criticised for allegedly failing to support implementation of a labour and union rights agreement it had initially encouranged a local supplier to sign with Pakistani trade union NTUF. The union and its German partner organisations have suspended negotiations with KiK for the time being because "KiK's actions do not satisfy its obligations under the LkSG [German Supply Chain Act]".
According to the trade unionists Nasir Mansoor and Zehra Khan, even if there are some areas that need to be improved, the German Supply Chain Act is already having a positive impact and is protecting human rights on the ground - as are those companies that are willing to address human rights in their supply chains.
After one year of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, civil society networks have provided an initial positive assessment but also see need for improvement in the future.
The purpose of this guidance note is to inform relevant stakeholders—those affected by human rights violations and environmental destruction along the transnational value chains of German companies, as well as civil society organizations in producing countries—about this new law and its possibilities.
The complaint against REWE and EDEKA concerns alleged labour and human rights violations on banana and pineapple plantations belonging to suppliers in Ecuador and Costa Rica.
The new guide details what trade union representatives, particularly those in works councils or supervisory boards in Germany, should expect from a risk assessment under international standards and the German Supply Chain Act, which mandates human rights due diligence.
ECCHR has filed a complaint against VW, BMW and Mercedes Benz with BAFA, arguing that the companies have not presented evidence showing that they are responding adequately to the risk of forced labour in supplier factories in the Xinjiang Autonomous Uyghur Region. The complaint is backed by the World Uyghur Congress and the Dachverband der Kritischen Aktionäre (German Umbrella Association of Critical Shareholders).
On 24 April, the 10th anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse, The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, FEMNET and National Garment Workers Federation filed a complaint on the basis of the German Supply Chain Act which came into force in January 2023.
Adopted in 2021, the bill was a long-overdue legislative starting point with room for improvement, expected to come at the EU level, says the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ)
In a joint statement, over 360 CSOs from 53 countries strongly criticise Omnibus proposal and urge the Council of the EU and the European Parliament to reject any amendments that weaken the CSDDD.
In a statement, small and medium-sized German enterprises (SMEs) call for an adjustment of the Supply Chain Act to align with the European regulations adopted in 2024, ensuring legal certainty, avoiding unnecessary burdens, and effectively implementing human rights and environmental protection.
Experts from ShareAction, WWF European Policy Office, the European Coalition for Corporate Justice, the World Benchmarking Alliance and Frank Bold shared their views on the European Commission’s Omnibus proposal during a webinar co-organised by these organisations.
In their initial reflection, Shift analyses that the European Commission’s Omnibus Simplification Proposal risks undermining effective risk-based sustainability due diligence and reporting by complicating company efforts, increasing burdens on SMEs, and weakening transparency despite international standards providing clear and practical guidance for meaningful action.
The Danish Institute for Human Rights is concerned about the Omnibus-proposal made by the European Commission, as the proposed changes risk undermining the ability of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) to meaningfully address the challenges of environmental degradation, climate change, and respect for human rights.
WWF argues in their press release that the Commission’s Omnibus proposal undermines key EU sustainability laws, threatening the Green Deal and creating regulatory uncertainty.
CSRD is key to improving access to ESG data, according to the EU banking regulator. The lack of data standardisation and comparability could present challenges to banks.
The UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, reiterated its support for a mandatory due diligence framework that aligns with international standards.
In their analysis, SOMO found that the financial cost of complying with the CSDDD – as estimated by the European Commission – would represent only 0.13 per cent of the average shareholder payouts made in 2023.
Kalpona Akter, a labour activist from Bangladesh, criticises the EU's upcoming Omnibus proposal, labelling it as corporate-driven deregulation that weakens the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. She argues that the proposal favours big businesses over workers' rights and jeopardises hard-won protections in global supply chains.
The EU Commission's proposed reforms to sustainability reporting and due diligence are being criticised as deregulation that weakens climate and human rights protections, reduces corporate accountability, and limits investors' access to reliable sustainability data.
In their statement, ECCJ argues that the leaked draft Omnibus proposal severely weakens the EU’s corporate sustainability framework and firmly reject the proposal.
The letter from 14 companies and industry associations, including Nestlé, Ferrero, MARS, Primark and Ingka Group | IKEA, says: "Investment and competitiveness are founded on policy certainty and legal predictability. The announcement that the European Commission will bring forward an “omnibus” initiative that could include revisiting existing legislation risks undermining both of these."
Some major companies like Nestlé, Unilever, and Signify oppose the European Commission's plan to weaken newly introduced green regulations, arguing that it threatens sustainability efforts, legal certainty, and a level playing field.
In a letter to the European Commission, the GRI urge the EU not to drop the principle of double materiality claiming it is essential for effective sustainability reporting, ensuring companies manage financial risks while also addressing their broader impacts on the environment, people, and the economy.
Global South organisations warn that the EU will fail workers and the environment globally if it weakens or delays the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), urging full implementation of the law to uphold human rights and environmental standards.
Human Level has published this briefing note for companies operating in the EU subject to the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), highlighting the business risks associated with re-opening Level 1 of the directive.
In an open letter to the European Commission, legal scholars expressed concern that a potential reopening Article 22 CSDDD could weaken corporate climate obligations, increase litigation risks, and create regulatory fragmentation.
In a statement, the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights encourages the EU not to reopen the CSDDD text, emphasising legal certainty, alignment with the UNGPs, and the importance of transparency and stakeholder engagement.
Dutch businesses urge the EU to uphold and implement the CSRD, CSDDD, and Taxonomy as planned, emphasising the need for legal certainty, a level playing field, and the benefits of strong sustainability regulations.
CSOs argue that the EU must reject calls for corporate-driven deregulation and uphold sustainability laws to protect people, the planet, and small businesses from exploitation.
Frank Bold's analysis examines the positions on the Omnibus proposal, specifically the CSRD and CSDDD, from certain ministries and authorities in Germany and France.
240 European researchers, mainly economists, have issued an open letter warning of the dangers of the ‘Omnibus’ initiative being prepared by the European Commission.
Finnish CSOs and companies urge the European Commission to avoid renegotiating agreed sustainability due diligence rules, emphasising the need for certainty, timely transposition, and clear guidance.
150+ civil society stakeholders have requested in a joint letter that the European Commission does not create further confusion and uncertainty through re-opening agreed legislative texts. The letter also criticises the way in which the Omnibus process has proceeded.
In their commentary, Heidi Hautala and the Resource Centre's Director Phil Bloomer argue that Europe must resist deregulation pressures and maintain strong ESG standards to uphold public trust, protect rights, and ensure legal certainty for businesses.
Signatories request President von der Leyen and Commissioner Dombrovskis to "respect the principles of democratic decision-making enshrined in the Treaty on European Union, which are so important to the credibility, mandate and public trust in the EU institutions."
Investors with a combined €6.6 trillion in assets under management have urged the European Commission to “preserve the integrity and ambition” of the EU’s sustainable finance framework.
Alexander Burr, ESG policy lead at Legal and General Investment Management, told Bloomberg that rolling back the rules “could risk our ability to understand ESG or sustainability-related risks.” The statement has also been covered by other outlets including Forbes and FT SustainableViews.
The European Commission announced plans to streamline business regulations to boost innovation. CSOs have criticised this Competitiveness Compass, arguing that it steers Europe in the wrong direction.
The European Commission is convening a roundtable with major corporations, particularly from the financial and energy sectors, and civil society groups to discuss revisions to the upcoming Omnibus proposal.
Finnish companies face varying levels of preparedness for EU sustainability regulations, with a key challenge including regulatory uncertainty created by the EU, a new study finds.
Transition plans should be “a single, comprehensive strategic planning process that covers all regulatory requirements stemming from applicable legislation” such as the corporate sustainability reporting directive and corporate sustainability due diligence directive (CSDDD), EBA's new guidelines state.
Ten European National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) expressed concerns in an open letter that the EU’s Omnibus proposal could undermine progress on corporate sustainability and create uncertainty for companies.
CSOs criticise France’s push for an indefinite delay of EU legislation, including CSRD and CSDDD, warning it could undermine social and environmental justice despite the country’s prior support for the legislation.
In light of the European Commission's announcement of an 'Omnibus Simplification Package’ , a group of business and human rights experts from legal practice, consulting, academia and the business world have expressed their grave concerns regarding the approch in a letter to the Commission.
In light of the discussions around an ‘Omnibus’ law, companies like Nestlé, Mars, Mondelez, Ferrero, Hershey and Tony’s Chocolonely, as well as other chocolate sector actors, urge the European Commission to not modify any elements of the CSDDD, nor to reopen it for renegotiation by the co-legislators, but to focus on guidance and support for its implementation.
170 civil society groups, human rights and environmental defenders, trade unions and climate activists have published a joint statement "saying no" to the 'Omnibus' proposal announced by EU Commission President von der Leyen to amend three key legislative pillars of the European Green Deal: the CSDDD, the CSRD and Taxonomy Regulation
The due diligence approach allows human rights and environmental risks to be assessed in a contextualized manner. Behind what is criticized as a “bureaucratic” approach, there is therefore far-reaching trust in companies, the authors argue.
Some of France’s largest companies, including Amundi SA and Electricite de France SA, have signed a letter to European policymakers urging them to ensure the bloc sticks with its current timetable for implementing ESG reporting rules.
The paper explores how the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive could promote responsible business practices in Sub-Saharan Africa, with examples of the impact on three commodities– cotton, cocoa, and copper supply chains– and provides an action plan for African policymakers.
The 2024 Danish Institute for Human Rights benchmark assesses the human rights policies and due diligence practices of 30 major Danish companies, measuring their alignment with global standards and contributing to discussions on responsible business conduct and the impact of upcoming EU regulations.
A new report by the EIRIS Foundation, applying its Social LobbyMap methodology, examines and highlights the role of private sector influence in the exclusion of financial sector downstream value chain activities from the scope of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
The ECCJ, in collaboration with 8 other CSOs, published a Transposition Guide for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). This essential guide provides key insights and recommendations for the upcoming transposition phase of this EU directive.
The ActionAid report highlights the need for a gender-responsive approach to the CSDDD, emphasizing the importance of addressing gender inequality, women’s rights, and protections for marginalized groups disproportionately affected by corporate abuses.
The report outlines recommendations for governments and companies to enhance corporate human rights performance through robust regulatory frameworks and collaborative efforts.
The study by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law provides reflections on changes in corporate practice resulting from the implementation of HREDD laws, namely the French DVL and German LkSG, and a comparative analysis of these legal models.
Trade unions are pushing for stronger human rights protections in the base metals sector, emphasising the role of HRDD frameworks and the CSDDD in improving worker conditions and holding companies accountable.
Anti-Slavery International's analysis of the EU CSDDD aims to empower civil society organisations to advocate for its effective implementation, address remaining gaps, and promote fair treatment of workers by businesses.
In its report, UNICEF provides its recommendations to the EU Institutions, EU Member States, and businesses on how to effectively implement the CSDDD for children’s rights.
The guide provides an in-depth analysis of the CS3D Directive, offering recommendations for its transposition into national laws to ensure strong environmental protection while encouraging alignment with international standards and supporting lawmakers, public authorities, and companies in understanding and implementing its provisions.
The particular format of the sector dialogues has had some positive results, but on balance the overall result for civil society is rather patchy – this is the conclusion NGOs participating in those sector dialogues present in a new background paper. Attempts by companies to depict their activities in sector dialogues as stakeholder engagement must be viewed in a critical light against the background of the CSDDD and the German Supply Chain Act.
Non-exhaustive examples showing how questions of effectiveness, current supply network/value chain complexity, and feasibility for companies have been addressed by the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
The guide provides practical guidance on how to engage with policymakers through the transposition of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive to advocate for alignment with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other international business and human rights standards.
The new blog by BSR says that financial institutions should proactively align with the CSDDD by assessing management gaps, enhancing collaboration, mapping value chains, identifying stakeholders, and developing a roadmap based on international due diligence standards.
Swedwatch views the CSDDD as a positive, long-awaited step towards corporate accountability but urges the Swedish government to strengthen the law during transposition, particularly by addressing gaps in company scope, downstream due diligence, and enforcement.
More than 100 large companies, SMEs and networks including Maersk, Aldi Süd Holding, Cisco, Nokia, H&M Group, Scania and Ritter Sport have united to endorse the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) again at the stage of final formal confirmation.
Necessary storage enables core site functionality. This site cannot function without it, so it can only be disabled by changing settings in your browser.
Analytics cookie
ON
OFF
When you access our website we use Google Analytics to collect information on your visit. Accepting this cookie will allow us to understand more details about your journey, and improve how we surface information. All analytics information is anonymous and we do not use it to identify you. Google provides a Google Analytics opt-out add on for all popular browsers.
Promotional cookies
ON
OFF
We share news and updates on business and human rights through third party platforms, including social media and search engines. These cookies help us to understand the performance of these promotions.
Your privacy choices for this site
This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies to enhance your experience beyond necessary core functionality.
