The EU Parliament has voted to adopt the Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) position on the draft due diligence Directive. The position aligns more closely with international standards on business and human rights by clarifying how companies can address harm and work with people who may be affected by company activities. It also lowers hurdles to access to justice for victims, by extending the statute of limitations on corporate abuse cases and offering financial and legal assistance to victims. However, the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ) and others expressed concern that Parliament missed an opportunity to reverse the burden of proof in civil cases.
EU institutions will enter into negotiations on the final due diligence law text over the summer.