“Lawyers condemn the Omnibus proposal – a threat to the environment and EU competitiveness”

ClientEarth lawyers have condemned the European Commission's plan to weaken key EU Green Deal laws – undermining the EU’s environmental goals and competitiveness.

The leaked "Omnibus" proposal, revealed over the weekend, introduces far-reaching amendments to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), and the EU Taxonomy Regulation. The proposal saps the essence of the CSDDD …

The proposal goes far beyond simplifying reporting requirements. It drastically weakens corporate responsibility by limiting due diligence to direct business partners, and watering down climate transition plan obligations.

Reopening this law without an impact assessment or a proper consultation process – before it is even implemented – undermines democratic principles enshrined in the EU Treaties…

ClientEarth senior lawyer Amandine Van den Berghe commented:

“The Commission has decided to tear down three key pillars of the Green Deal that ensure businesses act responsibly throughout their value chain – a reckless move that could actually not only hinder the EU's environmental goals but also the competitiveness of the EU market.

“At a time when corporate climate action needs more accountability, not less, weakening transition plan requirements is highly problematic…