Bridging the gap – How to reconcile the EU with a UN treaty on business and human rights

Konferenzsprache: Englisch

In October 2019, the members of the open-ended working group commissioned to negotiate a possible legal binding instrument on business and human rights will meet in Geneva for the fifth time. They will discuss a revised version of last year’s zero draft. Support for such a treaty has been running strong from developing and emerging economies. However, Western countries and entities including the European Union have shown scepticism towards a UN treaty throughout the negotiations.

The Policy Lunch will provide first-hand insights into the negotiations through observers and participants in the debate. How was the revised draft received by the advocates of a treaty and the sceptics? Does it show the way to close the gap between developing countries rather supporting a binding treaty in opposition to rather developed countries? And what role will the European Union play in the negotiations with the newly elected Parliament and incoming European Commission?

Minister für Bundes- und Europaangelegenheiten sowie Internationales des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen