A year after the EU adopted the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) in June 2024, requiring large companies to respect human rights and environmental standards across their global value chains and introducing plans to curb CO2 emissions, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is now being accused of reversing course.

Under the premise of “simplification,” von der Leyen has put forward an Omnibus proposal that critics say would substantially weaken the CSDDD.This move is seen as a contradiction to her earlier pledge to “maintain the content” of the law. The proposed changes would eliminate company liability for harm, remove the due diligence requirement across the entire supply chain, and undermine the implementation of companies’ climate mitigation plans.

Industry lobby groups, who have long criticized the EU’s sustainability policies, are believed to have influenced these changes. On May 29, the German city of Aachen is set to present von der Leyen with the Karlspreis award, recognizing her “impetus she has given to the Green Deal.” The timing is viewed by many as ironic, given her current efforts to dismantle one of the green Deal’s most critically important achievements.

This rollback is occurring at a time when serious human rights abuses, including life-threatening working conditions, child labor, and toxic pollution, remain prevalent in global supply chains. community leaders, human rights organizations, trade unions, and businesses have spent years advocating for the EU supply chain law to address these issues.

critics are urging von der leyen to reconsider her position. A German civil society coalition plans to protest in Aachen, calling for the original EU supply chain law to be upheld. They argue that maintaining the law would demonstrate von der Leyen’s continued commitment to a greener, fairer future for Europe.

Controversy Surrounds EU’s Sustainability Directive

The proposed changes to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) have sparked considerable debate and raised concerns among various stakeholders.

“Maintain the content”

The original directive, adopted in June 2024, aimed to hold large companies accountable for their impact on human rights and the surroundings throughout their global operations.Now, critics fear that the proposed revisions will undermine these efforts and weaken the EU’s commitment to corporate sustainability.