This short video explains everything you may have ever wanted to know about the Reconstruction of the State, but were afraid to ask.
The Czech Republic suffers from some of the worst corruption in the world. In order to fight it dozens of activists and experts got together to push for nine anticorruption bills aimed at increasing transparency while stopping conflicts of interest and misuse of public funds. The centerpiece of their efforts? A public pledge to support the anticorruption measures, which they put before every member of parliament.
At first, progress was painfully slow. But during snap elections in 2013, hundreds of volunteers took our cause directly to the candidates. Ultimately, 165 out of 200 members of parliament promised to support the reforms.
But the initial victory was short-lived. Eventually, parliament passed only one of the nine bills. The rest succumbed to an onslaught of excuses, delays, lobbyists, and political infighting. As the tide turned against reform, members of parliament started to demonize the pledge itself, calling us blackmailers, extremists, and radicals. The media eventually moved on to other issues.
Despite all these obstacles, we managed to get five of the proposed reforms passed by working with a small group of politicians across the party lines who actively advocated for the bills. Our initiative also inspired other coalitions to lead similar campaigns both at home and in neighboring countries. It’s a step in the right direction for a country that desperately needs to change the way it does business.
A new joint publication with Client Earth on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive helps EU Members states prepare for a meaningful transposition, ahead of the European Commission's expected implementation guidelines for the Directive next year.
EFRAG’s public consultation on the ESRS 40a (reporting standard for non-EU companies) marks a crucial moment for those working on corporate sustainability and accountability to send a clear signal to the EU on what direction to take. What is at stake is nothing less than Europe's international standing and authority, derived in part from its vision of a world where respect for human rights and the planet is a non-negotiable.
Read our just-released up-to-date briefing covering key EU sustainability law, including what has changed in the EU with the Omnibus reforms and what it means for businesses.
