COREPER I meeting – Ensuring an effective Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)

On the occasion of November 15 negotiations on the CSDDD, the Economy for the Common Good (ECG) has co-signed an open letter addressed to the actors involved, the European Union Committee of Permanent Representation (COREPER).

In this meeting, they will discuss the CSDDD to update the Council’s negotiation mandate for the next political trialogue. The over 60 signatory organisations and networks would like to draw the attention to five issues that are key to aligning the legislation with international standards and ensuring real-world improvements for people and the planet.

  1. Climate transition plans: Climate transition plans should be embedded within the general due diligence duty. Companies must be required to not only develop, but also to effectively implement their climate transition plans. These obligations should be enforceable in the same way as other due diligence
    obligations under the directive.
  2. Civil liability & access to justice: Restrictions on civil liability to harm that has been ‘caused to a natural or legal person’ and only for cases where there is an aim ‘to protect the natural or legal person’ must be removed. All access to justice measures listed in the European Parliament’s report must be incorporated
  3. Inclusion of the financial sector: Meaningful due diligence obligations that would apply to key financial sector activities within the CSDDD should be included.
  4. Value chain: The value chain must cover both upstream and downstream activities and business partners or entities. The CSDDD value chain definition should
    also include (direct and indirect) business partners as well as non-legal entities.
  5. Normative scope: Limitations through the definition of adverse human rights impact under article 3c and through limiting the Annex I Part I Section 1 and 2 must be removed. All additional instruments included in the European Parliament’s position, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the body of international humanitarian law, must be added.

Read the full letter and see all signatories

Image by @alanrodriguez on unsplash.