New Due Diligence Laws in Europe
Effective regulation of sustainability and human rights in global supply chains?

After years of discussion, the EU has adopted a directive regulating human rights and sustainability in global supply chains. Known as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, it establishes – for the first time – human rights and environmental due diligence obligations for corporate supply chains on an EU-wide basis. The directive harmonises and expands upon a number of new due diligence laws in EU Member States, including France and Germany. In their Global Governance Spotlight, Christian Scheper and Anne Engelhardt identify the improvements resulting from the directive, but also analyse its limitations and weaknesses. Based on their analysis, they provide suggestions for implementing the directive in order to improve its effectiveness and enforceability.