18/10/23 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 18 October, the European Parliament rejected by 261 votes for to 359 against, with 11 abstentions, the resolution opposing the delegated act establishing the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) (see EUROPE 13264/25). The resolution was tabled by 44 MEPs, mainly from the German EPP delegation, on the grounds that the delegated act “introduces a high administrative burden for companies”. “Despite intense lobbying by some representatives of private and foreign interests against European legal autonomy, and the failed electoral attempt by some members of European conservative groups to decimate the scope of the Directive, sustainability standards will now apply”, reacted MEP and rapporteur Pascal Durand (S&D, French), in a press release. Eelco van der Enden, Director of the standards body Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), welcomed Parliament’s approval of the ESRS. (AD)