Today marks a historic day for workers' rights and corporate accountability as the European Parliament adopts the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. This directive is a historic breakthrough, heralding a new era of accountability and liability for businesses operating within the EU. The milestones include:
Today, the Competitiveness Council adopted its “general approach” for the trialogue negotiations on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDD).
“The position taken by the Council is very disappointing to say the least”, says Isabelle Schömann, ETUC Confederal Secretary. “The Council position waters down an already unambitious proposal by the Commission.
ETUC initial analysis of the Commission’s proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence and updated roadmap for ETUC actions in 2022- 2023
Adopted at the virtual Executive Committee meeting of 16-17 March 2022
European Commission finally proposed a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence
Leading officials of the European trade union federations EFFAT, EPSU, IndustriAll Europe and UNI Europa as well as the ETUC met with the cabinet of European Commissioner Thierry Breton (Internal Market) on Thursday September 30th. The purpose was to present the trade unions' concerns regarding the announced initiatives on Sustainable Corporate Governance and mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence.
On 25 November, the European Commission has tabled a legal proposal for a regulation of the European Data Governance. The ETUC welcomes this legal proposal aiming at setting up the rules for a fair transfer of data among major actors in the digital economy, including governments and companies. The EC puts forward a “European way of processing data” among data intermediaries, built upon European legislation with a strong focus on not creating anti-trust practices among providers of data sharing services, to avoid monopolies.
The report on “Company Law, Artificial Corporate Entities and Social Policy” by Jan Cremers was published In the framework of the project “Company Mobility and Workers Representatives in Company Boards”.
A European directive on Human Rights due diligence and responsible business conduct including their supply chains will make the difference in better protecting workers rights and environmental standards. The Commission needs to act!
In the next days, the European Commission will publish a report of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) on due diligence requirements for supply chains. The report analyses the state of play and the need for initiatives at European level, paving the way to a possible commission initiative.
on 17 October 2018, 13h00 – 14h30
European Parliament, Room JAN 4Q2
The European Trade Union Confederation, the German Trade Union Confederation, the Austrian Trade Union Federation and the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour invites you to a debate on the Company Law Package which is under discussion in the European Parliament.
Brussels, 28 June 2018
ETUC position paper
The new company law package 2018: A missed opportunity for more democracy at work
Adopted at the Executive Committee on 25-26 June 2018
In an open letter on the recently presented proposal for a directive on the company law package, to Commissioner Marianne Thyssen, the ETUC is asking for the safeguarding of workers' rights on information, consultation and participation. "The Commission has to deliver for companies and workers alike," says Peter Scherrer, ETUC Deputy General Secretary.
Reacting to the European Commission’s proposals for new company law rules*, published today, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Deputy General Secretary Peter Scherrer said:
“The proposals on cross-border conversions show a welcome change of direction in EU company law, which until now has facilitated deregulation and regime shopping. The Commission aims to ensure that a company has genuine economic activity in the Member State where it wants to relocate its registered office. The proposed Directive therefore offers a basis for discussion.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) urges the European Commission to include in its forthcoming ‘European Company Law package’ binding measures to protect workers and end ‘regime shopping’ which allows companies in Europe to move their headquarters to another Member State where they pay less taxes and lower wages regardless of where their genuine economic activity take place.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomes the judgment today of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in favour of a worker's right to privacy and restricting employers' right to monitor workers electronic communications.
The ETUC have intervened in support of the case because of its broader privacy and employment implications for workers.
Responding to the European Commission’s legislative proposal on public country-by-country reporting (CBCR) by multinationals due to be voted on the ECON and JURI committees at the European Parliament on 30 May, the European Trade Union Confederation and civil society organisations urge the European Parliament to extend transparency to company activities in all countries on a worldwide basis.
The ETUC and ITUC have expressed strong support for the efforts by its French affiliates to defend the new law requiring French multinational companies to establish vigilance plans to avoid and remedy violations of fundamental rights and environmental standards throughout their supply chains and operations. Two days after the adoption of the law on 21 February, Members and Senators from the Republican Party, backed by employer organisation MEDEF, referred the issue to France’s Constitutional Council claiming that the law is unconstitutional.
The European Commission’s review of EU insolvency rules provides an important opportunity to improve the law and ensure that workers are properly protected says the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
Speaking today at the Slovak Presidency Conference on ‘Convergence of insolvency frameworks within the European Union – the way forward’, Esther Lynch, ETUC Confederal Secretary, highlighted the lack of recognition of the vulnerable situation of employees.
The European Central Bank (ECB) buying bonds is necessary, but will not be enough to stimulate growth or create jobs warned the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
“There is a welcome shift in economic policy” said Veronica Nilsson, Confederal Secretary at the ETUC referring to the expected and long-awaited quantitative easing announcement by the ECB, the recent reinterpretation of fiscal pact rules and investment plan by the European Commission.
Commenting on today’s European Commission spring 2014 economic forecast, Veronica Nilsson, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade union Confederation, said
Brussels, 26/04/2013
The ETUC expresses its disappointment with the new Action Plan of the European Commission on European Company Law and Corporate Governance (COM (2012) final). Acknowledging the importance of modern European company law, the ETUC has participated in two consultation exercises in a constructive spirit. We highlighted the need for a fundamental change of objectives, away from regime competition and the deregulatory agenda and towards coherent and sustainable governance (I).
Brussels, 05-06/12/2012
Directive 2004/25/EC on takeover bids is currently under review. A takeover bid should be understood as a public offer to the holders of a company to acquire all or some of their securities with a view to acquire control of that company. The ETUC challenges the philosophy underlying the Directive, according to which takeovers enable needed restructuring and improve the efficiency of the European economy, and should thus be promoted.
