AMSTERDAM – Ahead of the Finnish EU Presidency, more than 100 civil society organisations and trade unions have signed a letter calling on the European Union to develop legislation that would oblige businesses to address the human rights and environmental impacts of their global supply chains.
The coalition includes Clean Clothes, Friends of the Earth, WWF and Oxfam as well as many leading global unions. They are calling on the European Commission to introduce legislation establishing a corporate duty to respect human rights, the environment, and provide access to justice for victims of potential abuses. In theory, such legislation could help companies and financial institutions prevent potential risks and ensure fair competition for European companies who act responsibly.