The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has shown the fragility of global supply chains. It has also exposed the vulnerability of workers and the adverse social, health and safety impacts of business operations in today's supply chains. At a crucial moment for concrete policy action and decision-making, the German EU Presidency and the European Parliament asked the EESC for its recommendations. In two opinions adopted at its September plenary session, it calls on the European Commission to develop a European Action Plan and bring forward mandatory due diligence obligations in global supply chains.

In an exploratory opinion, the EESC calls for a European Action Plan on human rights, decent work and sustainability in global supply chains, with binding cross-sectoral EU legislation on human rights due diligence and responsible business conduct at its forefront. A broad definition should cover human rights, including workers' and trade union rights, and build on a range of international instruments.

In parallel to its work on the Action Plan, the EESC has been providing its advice to the European Parliament on a European legal initiative introducing mandatory due diligence on human rights and environmental impacts in business practices. The initiative, announced by European Commissioner Didier Reynders in April 2020 and expected in 2021, will make it legally binding for companies operating in the EU to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for the negative impacts of their activities on human and workers' rights and on the environment. (dgf)