The European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive has hit headwinds in its final stretch. The Finnish government has stated that it intends to block the directive in this Friday’s (9 February) vote among EU member states. JEF Finland demands that the Finnish government abandon its plans to block the directive.
The directive would impose stricter obligations on large companies to ensure responsibility throughout their entire supply chain. This would be achieved by preventing actual and potential harmful impacts on human rights and the environment worldwide. The directive would require large companies to align their operations with the Paris Climate Agreement, improve their reporting, and prevent human rights violations.
Petteri Orpo’s government has stated that it opposes the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive because the negotiated outcome includes:
1. Collective actions by organisations
This means that a group of individuals could authorise, for example, a trade union or an environmental organisation, to bring a lawsuit against a company that violates its responsibility obligations.
2. Duty to disclose evidence
This means that, for example in damages proceedings, companies could in certain cases be required to disclose additional evidence in their possession. This would promote a transparent legal process that treats all parties fairly and equally!
JEF Finland considers the directive a significant international step forward in strengthening ethical conduct among companies. Passing this directive is especially important so that potential human rights violations and environmental harm caused by companies can be addressed effectively and fairly.
Opposing the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive harms not only the legal protection of victims of human rights and environmental violations, but also the environment, workers, and companies that have invested in sustainability.
“The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive has been years in the making, and it is a step towards a more equal world in which profiting from human rights or environmental crimes would be made harder”, states JEF Finland President Amanda Alvesalo.
The Finnish government risks choosing an EU policy line that would enable socially and ecologically harmful practices in large companies’ supply and value chains.
Further information:
Amanda Alvesalo
President
[email protected]
+358 50 3216600