EU adopts groundbreaking Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

Today, Members of the European Parliament adopted the long awaited Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. The directive is a milestone for responsible business conduct as for the first time the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights will be codified into EU law.

Heidi Hautala MEP, European Parliament Vice-President,Greens/EFA shadow rapporteur on the Directive in the Legal Affairs committee, and chair of the European Parliament Working Group on Responsible Business Conduct, comments:

“The vote today represents the culmination of years of work, and is a joint achievement by a broad coalition of actors, including lawmakers, civil society organisations, leading businesses, academia, and trade unions. The directive would surely have failed in the Council without an unprecedented push from all of these actors, and the great work of the Belgian presidency.

“It is hard to overstate the importance of this legislation, even though the directive was watered down at the last moment by some Member States. The effects of this directive will be considerable and not limited to just the largest companies and the EU. With proper implementation, we can show that this law has teeth and will lead to tangible improvements on the ground. It can give hope to millions of people toiling in similar inhumane conditions as the garment factory workers of Rana Plaza did eleven years ago today.

“Today is a cause for celebration. Tomorrow we will continue our work.”