General Approach on the EU Supply Chain Law in the Competitiveness Council

The EU Trade Ministers are meeting for the last time today under the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. The items on the agenda include numerous legislative dossiers.

In the morning, the Council adopted its general approach on the corporate sustainability due diligence directive. The European Commission had submitted a proposal in February 2022. Promoting sustainable development is the key principle of the German Federal Government. Economic performance, the protection of the natural environment and social responsibility must go hand in hand to make sure that developments are viable long-term. The Federal Government advocates an efficient EU Supply Chain Act on the basis of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights which does not place an impossible burden on small and medium-sized enterprises.

State Secretary Sven Giegold said: "The compromise reached by the EU Member States today is good for the environment and for the people who work in global supply chains. Economic activity must comply with human rights and be sustainable. The EU is setting standards here to speed up the green transition worldwide. Today, the EU has shown that it is defending its values even in times of major crises."

The text will now be negotiated with the European Parliament.