On Friday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz made his inaugural visit to the European Union, including with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Contrary to the agreements of his own coalition agreement, he also surprisingly spoke out for the abolition of the European supply chain guideline (corporate sustainability due diligence directive - csddd).
For several reasons, this procedure is an irresponsible self -accommodation from the Chancellor:
- In the coalition agreement, the Union and the SPD have agreed to campaign for the CSDDD.
- Several SPD politicians have drawn an appeal that calls for the implementation of the directive https://appell-zi-zlief chains Directive.de/
- A so-called omnibus process*is currently underway, which is massively criticized by civil society anyway because he wants to drastically shut down the diligence of companies-i.e. their responsibility. In addition, civil society has not been listened to: the process runs under massive pressure, although the right is not even applied.
»Chancellor Merz spoke out for the complete abolition of the European supply chain guideline when he visited Ursula von der Leyen. This attitude contradicts the coalition agreement that has just been signed and opens the door and environmental protection for violation of human rights. This would massively shut down the planned duties of due diligence. This could mean that more children have to work in raw materials or on cocoa plantations. As a child rights organization, we cannot accept that! We will continue to campaign together with other organizations for an EU supply chain directive so that our prosperity is not based on the exploitation of children! ”
Joshua Hofert, Board of Directors Communication and spokesman for the Hommes board
In terms of content, the EU supply chain directive must be preserved:
- It makes an important contribution to preventing child labor and other violations of human rights in the supply chains of European companies.
- It counteracts massive environmental damage, which in particular endanger the health of children in countries in the global south.
Help save the supply chain law: Support with Terre des Hommes the petition of the Initiative Lief chain Act, Lief chains law.de/
»In addition, we cancel the National Special Center Objectives Act (LKSG). It is replaced by a law on international corporate responsibility, which implements the European supply chain directive (CSDDD) low in bureaucracy and, friendly. «
Extract from the coalition agreement of the CDU/CSU and SPD
*The "Omnibus procedure" in the EU is a process in which the European Commission is at the same time making legal changes in various areas, for example to simplify sustainability regulations and to reduce administrative effort for companies.