"Commission Staff Working Document on Implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights - State of Play"

This staff working document serves as a stocktaking exercise on where the European Union stands in terms of implementing the UNGPs. The report is a situational analysis of the political, judicial and non-judicial framework conditions in the EU. It is not a policy document, but a technical staff working document  of descriptive nature that aims to achieve the following: (1) To describe the status quo from the perspective of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy as regards the implementation of the UNGPs; (2) To explain the existing competencies of the EU vis-à-vis Member States for various activities required to implement the UNGPs...To provide an update on various activities by Commission services and the European  External Action Service (EEAS); and (4) To identify the potential gaps in the implementation of the UNGPs.