First Omnibus package on sustainability

Key points

The EESC:

• calls on the co-legislators to allocate adequate time for inclusive consultation with stakeholders and social partners;
• acknowledges that SMEs in particular find it challenging to implement sustainability and transparency processes. SMEs and auditors need more assistance in order to become compliant, which is essential because protecting European values and social models is of paramount importance;
• underlines that exercising corporate due diligence is essential for ensuring responsible business conduct and fostering sustainable value chains and calls for clear, proportionate rules and penalties, which are crucial for enabling companies to effectively comply with their obligations;
• acknowledges the Commission’s intention to refocus certain due diligence obligations to companies’ own operations, subsidiaries and direct business partners, but asks that a derogation be considered for companies with fewer than 500 employees operating in high-risk sectors, while pointing out that all companies have the obligation to respect human rights.
• urges legislators to clarify that companies should take appropriate measures to conduct in-depth assessments, based on a risk-based approach and guided by their own mapping activities. Additionally, the EESC calls on the co-legislators to reconsider the choice of the concept of ‘plausible information’ to ensure greater legal certainty
• regretfully acknowledges the removal of the possibility for victims to be represented by NGOs or trade unions in lawsuits and expresses concern that this may limit access to justice for affected individuals. The EESC encourages further reflection on how to ensure effective legal support for victims, particularly those facing structural obstacles to accessing remedies.