Multinational corporations, and guidelines to make them responsible for their impact on people and the planet

11.9.2019

Question for written answer E-002720-19
to the Commission
Rule 138
Kateřina Konečná (GUE/NGL)

Every day goods produced outside the EU by European companies enter the internal market, but these goods are tainted by serious human rights violations (such as the systematic use of child labour in cocoa supply chains), mass chemical poisoning in the electronics sector, or forced evictions and environmental devastation in mining. Parliament has repeatedly called for enforceable EU legislation that would require European companies and companies selling products in the EU to undertake mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence in their global operations and supply chains. The intention would be to implement globally accepted standards such as those outlined by the UN and OECD, which would make corporates responsible for their impact on people and the planet.

What concrete steps will the Commission take to protect EU consumers from products that result from human rights and environmental violations, and to ensure that companies do not abuse the internal market to generate profits through rights violations?

How will the Commission ensure that companies are accountable to victims and consumers for the human rights and environmental risks and damage that result from their business operations?