The EU sees itself as a union based on common values. It therefore is obliged to stand up for the rights of those people around the world who make the products on our supermarket shelves and in our online stores. To live up to this obligation, recent years have seen the adoption of various guidelines and progress with legislative initiatives concerning human rights due diligence in supply chains. Here you will find texts with an overview of current European-level developments in the field of business and human rights.
Europe
Overview of EU directives and initiatives
EU supply chain law initiative
In a globalized economy it takes a European strategy to protect human rights and the environment in supply and value chains effectively. On 1 December 2022, the Council determined its negotiating position ("general approach") regarding the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
Conflict minerals
Armed groups in conflict zones finance their activities through the mining of important minerals such as tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold. In June 2016, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission agreed on key points for the regulation on conflict minerals which is to contribute to a resonsible raw material supply by EU importers of rare minerals.
EU Timber Regulation
Demand for timber is increasing steadily around the world. This leads to more illegal logging. The EU’s Timber Regulation came into force in 2013 with the aim of protecting forests worldwide and keeping them usable for future generations.