The far-right and far-right European MEPs teamed up to unveil a law on a “duty of vigilance” for large companies

The vote comes as members of the European Parliament begin considering a series of texts on “simplifying” business life.

Attacks on environmental achievements are increasing in Brussels. In the European Parliament, far-right and far-right groups combined their voices on Thursday, November 13, to unveil legislation on a social and environmental “duty of vigilance” for large companies. The European Parliament approved with 382 votes in favor and 249 against reducing the ambition the so-called “Omnibus” directive, by limiting the number of companies concerned and eliminating some of their obligations.

Passed in April 2024, this law requires, under sanctions, companies with more than 1,000 employees to prevent and correct human rights violations (child labor, forced labor, safety, etc.) and environmental damage. This is also true across their value chain, including their suppliers around the world. However, the European Parliament has raised the threshold for the companies concerned, which increased to more than 5,000 employees and an annual turnover of more than 1.5 billion euros.

The European Parliament also abolished the European civil liability regime, which served to harmonize the obligations of companies and their responsibilities before the courts in the event of violations. Lawmakers prefer to stick to each country’s laws. Although COP30 was held in Belém with the theme of collective action to fight the climate crisis, including by companies, members of the European Parliament have rejected the need to provide a climate transition plan.

In the name of the fight against bureaucracy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron have called for the complete abolition of the law on the duty of vigilance, the entry into force of which has been postponed for one year, from 2027 to 2028.

Thursday’s vote comes as the European Parliament begins considering a series of bills on the matter “simplification” business life. Thus, this lightning bolt was hailed as a “big win” in Europe’s extreme right groups. “Another majority is possible”, “this is just the beginning”, launched the Patriots group, chaired by Jordan Bardella, welcoming the far-right (European People’s Party) alliance with the far-right. On the right, MEP François-Xavier Bellamy stated this “simplification” will allow “save our business from normative suffocation”.

After this vote, negotiations will begin with member states, with the aim of definitively adopting the revised and improved legislation. “It is still possible to improve this situation”but this poll shows that “far right groups gain influence” and a pro-European majority “destroyed”reaction of Jurei Yada, of the think tank E3G. The absence of European civil liability poses risks “competition between 27 member states to see who has the loosest regime to attract business”, then warned Swann Bomier, from the NGO Bloom.