The Responsible Business Conduct Working Group of the European Parliament, chaired by Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA, Finland), followed up on the announcement by EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders that legislation on due diligence in corporate supply chains (see EUROPE 12477/24) will be presented in 2021.
In a letter sent to the Commissioner on Tuesday 26 May, MEPs in the group reiterated their full support for the initiative, saying it would be “a historic and meaningful contribution to the European Green Deal and sustainable economic recovery”.
The letter sets out their vision for future legislation, which they believe should apply to all business undertakings of all sizes across the EU, including the obligation to respect human rights and the environment in their own domestic and international activities.
Legislation should also include a requirement for business enterprises to identify, prevent, mitigate, monitor and account for potential and actual human rights abuses and environmental harm in their entire global value chains, they write.
MEPs also call for establishing civil liability for human rights abuses and environmental harm and provide access to remedy for victims. The authorities should also have effective instruments to monitor the compliance of undertakings and ensure the enforcement of the rules, including through penalties and sanctions.
Finally, they stress that it is imperative that this future legislation be complemented by more specific standards and guidance to businesses and stakeholders on the processes and topics that should be covered.
See the letter: https://bit.ly/2TL19OM (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)