home
news

The European Commission's proposal must be strengthened to end corporate harm to human rights, the environment and climate

share this article

On 23 February 2022, the European Commission released its proposal for a directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence. This directive could represent a landmark step forward in minimising the negative impacts of businesses on workers, communities and the environment worldwide. In response, over 220 NGOs and trade unions from around the world welcome the proposal as an essential and long-awaited step toward corporate accountability, responsible business conduct and access to justice.

However, the proposal contains significant flaws that risk preventing the directive from achieving the positive impact that people, planet, and climate urgently need. The undersigned human rights, labour and environmental organisations and networks call on the European Parliament and EU Member States to strengthen the text in line with what EU citizens, workers and communities affected by corporate abuses worldwide have vocally and publicly demanded.

The joint statement outlines our collective views on how to improve the proposal to guarantee that the law will effectively prevent corporate harm to human rights, the environment and climate; as well as provide victims of corporate abuse with access to effective remedies.

Civil society statement
    (
3.16 MB
)

You may also like these news

Why we need to get improved corporate sustainability data by 2024

Investors, asset managers and civil society organisations call for the prompt implementation of the reform on corporate sustainability reporting and EU standards

NGOs Open letter: Strong concerns about the delay in the publication of the Sustainable Corporate Governance initiative

Frank Bold together with other leading NGOs working on corporate sustainability and sustainable finance raised strong concerns about the delay in the publication of the Sustainable Corporate Governance initiative, as well as the lack of information explaining such new delay.

Webinar: ESG Due Diligence - Principles and Practical Experience

Due diligence is a precondition for the sustainable activities as defined by the EU Taxonomy and green financing under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, including green bonds. Particular ESG due diligence requirements will be regulated by the forthcoming Sustainable Corporate Governance Directive. To help companies better understand its scope and to clarify its requirements, Frank Bold is hosting a webinar. It will feature international experts from companies such as Ericsson and outdoor clothing manufacturer Vaude. We invite you to join us on 26 January at 10 am CET.