In the coalition agreement two years ago, the “AMPEL”-Coalition agreed to support the EU supply chain law. It states unequivocally: “We support an effective EU supply chain law, based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which does not overwhelm small and medium-sized companies.” (siehe unten).
Now – shortly before the successful adoption of the EU Supply Chain Act – things suddenly sound completely different for the FDP. The FDP Presidium published a resolution paper on January 15, 2024, which states: “We reject the current draft of the EU Supply Chain Directive. This would create disproportionate bureaucratic hurdles and legal uncertainty…”
This is questionable in itself against the background of the joint coalition agreement. However, it also overlooks the fact that many companies (including medium-sized businesses) welcome a stricter EU supply chain law. A recent survey of 2,000 companies by the Handelsblatt Research Institute (HRI) showed that only 7 percent reject an EU supply chain law, while 44 percent of companies are already paying attention to sustainability in the supply chain and 37 percent are already partially doing so.
Johannes Heeg from the Supply Chain Act Initiative, of which XertifiX is also a member, writes: “The EU supply chain law is not about annoying bureaucracy, but about fundamental human rights and environmental standards. With its U-turn shortly before the finish line, the FDP is jeopardizing Germany’s credibility in the EU when it comes to sustainability. … With its blockade stance, the FDP is also isolating itself internationally: the liberal group in the European Parliament celebrated the agreement on a compromise on the EU supply chain law in December as a great success.Chancellor Olaf Scholz is now responsible for protecting the credibility of the federal government in the EU.”
See: Coalition Agreement
See: Resolution paper of the FDP Presidium published on January 15, 2024
See: Handelsblatt Research Institute (HRI) about the Supply Chain Law