There is strength in unity. The right managed to unravel a law on the social and environmental “duty of vigilance” of large companies in the European Parliament this Thursday. Adopted in 2024, this text would have required companies with more than 1,000 employees to prevent and remedy human rights violations (child labor, forced labor, safety, etc.) and environmental damage throughout their value chains, including at their suppliers around the world.
MEPs approved by 382 votes to 249 the reduction in these ambitions. A victory “ historical »according to Marion Maréchal, seeing the “demonstration that the coalition of the rights is working”. “We have proven that another majority – and another policy for Europe – is possible. This is just the beginning”for its part promised the Patriotes group, chaired by Jordan Bardella. This simplification allows “save our businesses from normative asphyxiation”explained François-Xavier Bellamy. This unusual alliance caused an outcry among left-wing groups. The EPP “torpedoed any moderate compromise”the social democrat René Repasi was indignant.
In fact, the European Parliament has raised the threshold for companies concerned to more than 5,000 employees and more than 1.5 billion euros in annual turnover. Above all, elected officials removed the European civil liability regime, which served to harmonize the obligations of companies and their responsibilities before the courts in the event of breaches. Parliamentarians preferred to stick to the legislation of each country. It remains to be seen whether they will tackle other measures of the much-maligned Green Deal.
