Clearly, big companies need to prevent violations of social rights and the environment throughout their supply chains. That is why the European Green Party applauds that the European Parliament rejected the European People’s Party’s attempt to weaken the supply chain law. 

Today, a narrow majority of MEPs rejected the European Commission’s omnibus proposal to  water down the legal liability of companies for human rights and environmental violations in their supply chains. Consequently, new negotiations on EU corporate due diligence and sustainability reporting will take place.

“This vote in the EP is good news for the environment and workers around the globe, just 20 days before the COP begins in Brazil. Had the European People’s Party proposal to weaken the legislation been passed, it would have undermined one of the cornerstones of the Green Deal”, said Ciarán Cuffe, Co-Chair of the European Green Party. “At a time when citizens expect greater transparency and accountability from large corporations, a robust law to hold big businesses to account is essential.”

“Do citizens want to buy goods that are made in countries that do not respect basic human rights, or where children are forced to work ? The answer is a simple no. Europe must hold big companies accountable for the social and environmental behaviour of their subcontractors. Once again, the European People’s Party bowed to corporate lobbyists, and even tried to blackmail other parties by threatening to team up with the far right. Europe needs laws that protect people and the planet, not deals that protect polluters. This vote shows that we are not the only ones fighting against the dismantling of the Green Deal. We hope this vote has taught the EPP a lesson: they must stop undermining  the Green Deal. It is also a warning ahead of tomorrow’s EU Council”, concluded Vula Tsetsi, Co-Chair of the European Green Party.

The Greens/EFA Group in the EP voted against the weakening of the due diligence law.