Today, a majority of MEPs have just voted that the Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) will not be implemented until 2028 and the Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will be postponed by two years for companies in the second and third wave of the legislation. The content of both laws will also be renegotiated in terms of content. The Due Diligence Directive was only passed last year. The European Commission proposed the so-called Omnibus Simplification Package on 26 February 2025. For the very first time, and against a backdrop of a shift to the right in the European Parliament, the four pro-European political groups, the Greens/EFA, EPP, S&D and Renew agreed in a written statement to work together.
Terry Reintke MEP, President of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, comments:
“Let there be no mistake: We are extremely unhappy with the Commission's Omnibus proposal. It makes hasty and detrimental changes to laws that have only just been adopted. By staying at the negotiation table, we will do our utmost to prevent the worst and defend the Green Deal.
“Clear and binding rules against child labour, forced labour and environmental damage are a major success of the last mandate and we will defend this success. The Greens/EFA Group will remain the advocates of the Green Deal. and will hold all other parties to account, to stick to the agreement found between the four pro-European groups.”
Bas Eickhout MEP, President of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, comments:
"For the very first time, the four pro-European groups in a written agreement commit to work together. We are reacting responsibly against the historic challenge of a shift to the right. By voting for today’s Stop the Clock proposal, we are showing our willingness to work constructively with the other pro-European democratic groups to correct the Commission’s mistakes.
“We will take a strong stance in the upcoming negotiations to ensure that the EU remains a reliable partner in the fight against child labour, forced labour and other abuses.”