Today, the European Parliament, backed by a right-wing majority led by the European People’s Party (EPP), made a regrettable decision under the guise of so-called “simplification”. It adopted its position on the Omnibus I, a deregulation package proposed by the European Commission that weakens essential sustainability laws, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and other hard-won regulations aimed at protecting human rights and the environment.
Brussels, 13 November 2025 - The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) strongly condemns the European Parliament’s vote and calls on EU lawmakers to reverse this dangerous decision during the upcoming trilogue negotiations. By undermining key corporate accountability measures, this vote delivers a blow to the EU’s credibility and ambition as a global leader on human rights and sustainability.
As world leaders gather in Belem at COP30 to discuss urgent global action on climate change and a path towards a just transition, the European Parliament has chosen to appease corporate interests and roll back vital protections for the environment and human rights.
This decision comes after months of pressure from corporate lobbies and political elites, who have sought to gut the CSDDD and dismantle years of progress. The European Commission, earlier this year, introduced the Omnibus I package under the guise of “simplification,” but without proper consultation or impact assessments, through a process that has been widely criticised and that some do not hesitate in defining as “unconstitutional”.
In its latest move, thanks to a right-wing majority collaborating with the extreme right, the European Parliament adopted a position that actively undermines the CSDDD’s substance :
– Reducing the scope of application to EU companies with more than 5,000 employees and a net worldwide turnover of more than EUR 1.5 billion, while it was initially set at 1,000 employees and 450 million, thus limiting the ambition of the legislation.
– Narrowing the definition of “stakeholders” to only a limited group, excluding vital voices from affected communities, environmental groups, and human rights organisations most critical to identify, prevent, and mitigate corporate harms.
– Eliminating all obligations to adopt and implement climate transition plans, leaving corporations unaccountable for their contribution to climate breakdown and future sustainability efforts.
Abolishing the EU-wide civil liability regime and blocking the ability of NGOs and trade unions to take collective action against corporate wrongdoing.
– Furthermore, the financial sector remains absent from the CSDDD scope despite efforts by civil society organisations to push for its reintegration.
“This is a defining moment : you still have the opportunity to build a Europe rooted in an economy that respects human rights and the planet. Don’t squander it,” underlines Alexis Deswaef, FIDH’s President. “In the face of escalating climate threats and an economic model that has failed to deliver well-being and equal opportunities for all, the only legitimate path forward is one that prioritises human rights and a truly sustainable and inclusive growth. Europe’s future, both as a global leader and as a beacon of justice, depends on the choices you make in the coming weeks.”
This vote signals a dangerous departure from Europe’s commitments to human rights and sustainability, threatening to unravel years of hard-fought progress. The European Parliament has chosen corporate interests over the rights of people and the planet.
A trilogue negotiation between the three European institutions will now begin, with a final vote on the Omnibus I package expected by the end of 2025.
FIDH continues to condemn the illegitimacy of the Omnibus initiative and the serious threat it poses to European institutional stability. It urges legislators to ensure the final agreement preserves the most ambitious provisions of the CSDDD and upholds the protection of human rights, workers, affected communities, and the environment.
