EU Lief Chain Act: FDP blocks compromise - German environmental aid appeals to Federal Chancellor Scholz

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On Friday, February 9th, the EU Council coordinated the EU Lief chain law. The German Federal Minister of Justice Buschmann and Federal Minister of Finance Lindner rejected the compromise negotiated by the EU Commission, the Member States and the EU Parliament at the last minute. According to a statement by the two ministries, which is available to the German Environmental Aid (DUH), the law could not receive the necessary majority in the Council due to the German abstention. The Federal Government is expected to decide on its coordination behavior the next day at its cabinet meeting. The SPD and the Greens want to agree to the law.

The blockade keeping of the FDP Minister Lindner and Buschmann is sharply criticized by the DUH. She accuses the two ministers with their blockade of one of the central project of the EU Green Deal and prevent a milestone for human rights and environmental protection. German environmental aid warns that Germany's credibility as a reliable negotiating partner in Europe could be questioned if the federal government contains at the last minute. FDP block adversions are also seen as an affront to companies that have been committed to more sustainable and fairer supply chains for years. The law could eliminate the numerous grievances along the long supply chains, create the same competitive conditions for companies and effectively combat environmental crime.

The factual situation and possible local effects of the EU Lief chain law are shown below:

-Legal framework: The EU Lief Chain Act aims to oblige companies to check their supply chains for human rights violations and environmental damage. It requires companies to fulfill duties and take measures to ensure that their suppliers do not commit or cause any human rights violations.
- National context: Germany has a long tradition in the agreement of standards for companies in relation to human rights and environmental protection. A German abstention in the EU Lief chain Act could question the previous pioneering role in Germany and weaken its position as a reliable negotiating partner.
- Historical aspects: Germany has taken various initiatives in the past to strengthen the responsibility of companies regarding human rights and environmental protection. This new law could be seen as a milestone in this development and create a greater liability for companies.
-Local effects: As the headquarters of many large companies and non-profit organizations, Berlin is an important actor in the area of ​​supply chain responsibility. The introduction of the EU Lief Chain Act could force local companies to check their supply chains more closely and, if necessary, take measures to counter human rights violations and environmental damage.

In the following you will find a table with other relevant information:

| EU Lief Coveret Act |
| ———————- |
| Purpose: Commitment of companies to check their supply chains for human rights violations and environmental damage |
| Range: Companies based in the EU and companies that import goods into the EU |
| Requirements: Fulfillment of diligence to avoid human rights violations and environmental damage |
| Sanctions: fines in the event of violations of the law |
| Proponents: EU Commission, EU Parliament, civil society organizations |
| Critics: Some companies and political parties that reject the bureaucracy and the additional costs of the law |

The EU Lief Coveret Act is about to vote in the EU Council. The blockade of the German Federal Minister of Justice Buschmann and Federal Minister of Finance Lindner could endanger the law and undermine Germany's credibility as a reliable negotiating partner. The introduction of the law would have potential local effects on companies and organizations in Berlin, since these would be forced to check their supply chains more precisely and take measures if necessary to prevent human rights violations and environmental damage.


Source: Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V./OTS