Inter-institutional exchange, relevant existing legislation, and resources related to EU institutions and EU Agencies on Human Rights Due Diligence and Access to Remedy.

Letters

• Commissioners’ reply letter to MEPs, 27 June 2022, on Economic Pact on Sustainable Cocoa
• MEPs letter to Commissioners, 27 April 2022, on a call on EC to enter into negotiations following a proposal to establish an Economic Pact on Sustainable Cocoa by Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire
• NGOs’ Open Letter to Commission, 20 December 2021, on Risking Effective Sustainable Corporate Governance
• Vice-president Timmermans reply letter, 15 December 2021, to MEP letter on supply side measures in Deforestation Regulation proposal
• Joint NGO statement on delay to EC’s Sustainable Corporate Governance initiative, 15 December 2021
• President von der Leyen reply letter, 20 December 2021, to MEP letter on Access to Justice
• MEP letter to President von der Leyen and Commissioners Reynders and Breton, 27 October 2021, on Access to Justice for victims of corporate human rights violations
• MEP letter to Commissioners, 7 Oct 2021, on supply side measures in Deforestation Regulation proposal
• President von der Leyen reply to Group Presidents, 28 July 2021, on Sustainable Corporate Governance
• MEP letter to EFRAG, 12 July 2021, on balanced representation of stakeholders in the work on corporate sustainability standards
• EP Group Presidents’ letter to President von der Leyen, 23 June 2021, on Sustainable Corporate Governance
• MEP letter to Commissioners, 22 June 2021, on Sustainable Corporate Governance

EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA)

• Report: Business and Human Rights: Access to Justice and Effective Remedies (2022), by European Law Institute (ELI) with FRA input
• Report: Business and Human Rights – Access to Remedy (2020)
• Opinion: Improving access to remedy in the area of business and human rights at the EU level (2017)

European Parliament Studies

• In-depth analysis: Commission proposal on corporate sustainability due diligence: analysis from a human rights perspective (2022)
• A study: External policy tools to address modern slavery and forced labour (2022)
• A briefing: Human Rights Due Diligence Legislation – Options for the EU (2020)
• A briefing Substantive Elements of Potential Legislation on Human Rights Due Diligence (2020)
• A briefing Human Rights Due Diligence Legislation – Options for the EU (2020)
• A study Access to legal remedies for victims of corporate human rights abuses in third countries, requested by the Subcommittee of Human Rights analysed obstacles faced by victims of corporate human rights abuses and made several recommendations, including the adoption of mandatory HRDD at the EU level to contribute to address the governance gap and ensure better access to legal remedies for victims. (2019)

Legislation

• Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive 2021/0104(COD) – Commission proposal (March 2021)
• Conflict Minerals Regulation (Regulation 2017/821/EU), lays down supply chain due diligence obligations for EU importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas
• Non-Financial Reporting Directive (Directive 2014/95/EU) that requires large companies to disclose certain information on the way they operate and manage social and environmental challenges
• EU Timber Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 995/2010) that requires companies or persons placing timber or timber products on the EU market to conduct due diligence in order to determine the source of the timber and its legality.

European Parliament reports and resolutions

• EP resolution with recommendations to the Commission on corporate due diligence and corporate accountability (2020/2129(INL)) (10 March 2021)
• EP Resolution on sustainable corporate governance (2020/2137(INI)) (17 Dec 2020)
• EP Resolution with recommendations to the Commission on an EU legal framework to halt and reverse EU-driven global deforestation (2020/2006(INL)) (22 Oct 2020)
• EP Resolution on EU coordinated action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences (2020/2616(RSP)) stated that corporate human rights and environmental due diligence are necessary conditions in order to prevent and mitigate future crises and ensure sustainable value chain. (17.04.2020)
• EP Report on Competition Policy – annual report 2019 (2019/2131(INI)) stressed the importance of increased transparency, sustainability and corporate accountability in global value chains, and called on the EU to consider establishing a legal framework for mandatory due diligence in global value chains as a necessary step for achieving this. (25.02.2020)
• EP resolution on Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2018 (2019/2125(INI)) called for a legislative proposal on corporate human rights and due diligence to prevent abuses in the global operations of companies and access to judicial remedy for victims of corporate misconduct. (15.01.2020)
• European Parliament resolution on Harnessing globalisation: trade aspects (2018/2005(INI)) asked for a broad framework with clear transparency and due diligence obligations for the whole supply chain. (25.10.2018)
• EP Resolution on The implementation of the GSP Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 (2018/2107(INI)), called for the inclusion of corporate social responsibility in the GSP Regulation and to reform WTO rules to institute supply chain due diligence and transparency requirements. (04.10.2018)
• EP Resolution on Transparent and accountable management of natural resources in developing countries: the case of forests (2018/2003(INI)) highlighted the case for responsible supply chains and financing. (11.09.2018)
• EP Resolution on Violation of the rights of indigenous peoples in the world, including land grabbing (2017/2206 (INI)) stressed the need to hold European multinational corporations and business enterprises accountable for the human rights violations, including by means of human rights due diligence measures. (03.07.2018)
• EP Resolution on Sustainable Finance (2018/2007(INI)) called for an EU overarching mandatory due diligence framework including a duty of care based, among others, on the French duty of vigilance law. (29.05.2018)
• EP Resolution on The EU’s input on a UN binding instrument on transnational corporations with respect to human rights (2018/2763(RSP)) encouraged the EU and its Member States to pursue the adoption of a coherent framework establishing mandatory human rights due diligence requirements for companies. (14.03.2018)
• EP Resolution On the impact of international trade and the EU’s trade policies on global value chains (2016/2301(INI)), called on Commission to consider introducing legislation for social and environmental traceability labelling system through compulsory due diligence requirements for companies. (12.09.2017)
• EP Resolution on the EU flagship initiative on the garment sector (2016/2140(INI)) demanded the Commission to propose binding supply chains due diligence legislation. (27.04.2017)
• EP Resolution on Palm oil and deforestation of rainforests (2016/2222(INI)) called for the EU to establish a binding regulatory framework to ensure that all agricultural commodity importers’ supply chains are traceable back to the origin of the raw material. (04.04.2017)
• EP Resolution on Corporate liability for serious human rights abuses in third countries (2015/2315(INI)) asked for urgent binding and enforceable rules in the field of corporate responsibility and due diligence, related sanctions and monitoring mechanisms. (25.10.2016)
• EP Resolution on Implementation of the 2010 recommendations of Parliament on social and environmental standards, human rights and corporate responsibility (2015/2038(INI)) (05.07.2016)
• EP Resolution on FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreements (2012/C 136 E/03) (19.01.2011)