The European Parliament adopted its position on the Omnibus I proposal through an alliance between the EPP (European People’s Party) and far-right parties. The vote – 382 in favour, 249 against, and 13 abstentions – significantly weakens key EU rules on sustainability, workers’ rights, and human rights due diligence. The outcome shows that the “red line” publicly vowed by EPP’s leader Manfred Weber has been erased.
The decision goes against warnings from the European Central Bank, major business associations, more than 100 lawyers and academics, over 30 former EU leaders, and many civil society organisations, including LSI, who highlighted the risks of deregulation, legal uncertainty, and weakened human rights protections.
The adopted position prohibits the standard practice of asking suppliers for data needed to understand risks and impacts, limiting it to business partners with fewer than 5,000 employees. The threshold for companies reporting under the CSRD was also reduced to 1,750 employees and €450 million in revenues, excluding the vast majority of companies previously included. In addition, provisions ensuring harmonised civil liability rules, cross-border access to justice, and representation by third-party organisations have been removed. Trilogue negotiations started on 18 November. This is a final opportunity to recalibrate Omnibus “simplification” and maintain the substance of laws vital for rightsholders and EU long-term resilience.
The vote comes as labour exploitation continues to sustain trade in the EU. In Germany, several organisations filed a complaint alleging labour exploitation and child labour at coffee supliers to Nestlé, Dallamayr, Starbucks & Neumann Kaffee Gruppe.
Read also previous LSI’s article and the Podcast on “Ungoverning the EU”.