The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) represents a generational opportunity for the European Union to cement its role as a global leader in responsible business and human rights. As the European Parliament prepares for the crucial plenary vote in November, following a rejection of the JURI committee’s position, we urge every Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and policymaker to seize this moment of truth. This is not the time for timid compromises; it is the time to correct the significant shortcomings of the current text and deliver a law that genuinely protects workers, farmers, and the environment wherever Europe buys its products.
The eyes of the world’s most vulnerable are now on Brussels. They are waiting to see whether the EU will uphold its values or settle for a watered-down law that fails to tackle the root causes of injustice in global supply chains and in the end will weaken Europe’s international position.
The eyes of the world’s most vulnerable are now on Brussels. They are waiting to see whether the EU will uphold its values or settle for a watered-down law that fails to tackle the root causes of injustice in global supply chains and in the end will weaken Europe’s international position.
Strengthen the Foundation, Resist Weakening
The current CSDDD text, despite its potential, still contains gaps that must be closed before trilogue negotiations begin. The Parliament has a vital opportunity to correct these flaws and ensure the Directive is effective and strengthens Europe’s position.
1. Uphold the Integrity of Due Diligence
A truly effective due diligence law must acknowledge the complexity and reality of global supply chains. We call on MEPs to retain the strong, risk-based approach as agreed upon by the INTA and DROI committees, and as reflected in the final JURI text. Due diligence is about managing risks and about continuous improvement. It is not about cutting ties with high-risk suppliers. This approach is fundamental because it requires companies to look beyond immediate contractual partners and scope indirect business partners where the most severe human rights and environmental risks often lie. Excluding these indirect suppliers renders the Directive powerless against the worst abuses. This weakens Europe’s position internationally.
Furthermore, any framework must facilitate, not hinder, the due diligence process. We must ensure that during risk assessments, companies are empowered to request information necessary to identify and address pervasive violations such as the lack of living incomes and living wages. The information requested from suppliers must always be proportionate to the prevalence of risks and the data requests must be targeted, preventing undue burden on small producers while maximizing the effectiveness of the assessment.
2. Safeguard Suppliers from Irresponsible Disengagement
A key pillar of responsible business is how companies end relationships. We urge MEPs to be clear: the CSDDD must firmly require stakeholder engagement prior to the suspension or termination of business relations. If a company decides to terminate a business relation, it must be done responsibly. Too often, smallholder farmers and producers are abruptly cut off, leading to catastrophic threats to their livelihoods. The Directive must mandate clear, remedial steps to prevent this irresponsible “de-risking” that simply shifts problems elsewhere.
To ensure transparency and accountability in this process, we also insist that the definition of stakeholders to be consulted must explicitly include NGOs, as recommended by the DROI subcommittee. These organisations often have deep and current understanding of local risks and impacts, making their consultation valuable for effective due diligence.
Don’t Let the Momentum Fade
By voting to strengthen the CSDDD, the European Parliament will enter the final trilogue negotiations with a clear, ambitious mandate that is aligned with the expectations of EU citizens, businesses, and human rights defenders globally.
Any attempt to further weaken the provisions, be it by narrowing the scope of the supply chain, the companies in scope of the directive, or removing safeguards on disengagement, would send a clear signal: that the EU is prioritizing short-term interests over long-term responsible and stable trade relations with the rest of the world.
We urge MEPs to look at the mounting global consensus for stronger mandatory due diligence.
We urge MEPs to look at the mounting global consensus for stronger mandatory due diligence. This is the moment to build a strong, resilient, and rights-based CSDDD. It is time for Parliament to seize the opportunity and deliver a law that truly lives up to the promise of responsible global trade. Vote for strength, vote for responsibility, vote for a Europe that matters in the world.