Paris, Brussels, 17 October 2025. On 6 October, 46 major European companies signed a joint letter to French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, calling for the repeal of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) in the name of "European competitiveness".
Accepting to do so would undo years of progress in promoting responsible behaviour by companies in their activities and value chains.
Due diligence is a tool for progress, not a burden
Contrary to the signatories’ claims, the duty to perform due diligence is not a hindrance to competitiveness or an administrative burden. Many companies have already equipped themselves with effective tools to identify environmental, social and human risks and to prevent or remedy harm, all while respecting the rights of stakeholders.
In fact, it is a reversal of these efforts – not their continuation – that would undermine the competitiveness and credibility of European companies on the world stage.
Supporting human rights and environmental protection
Multinational companies operating within global value chains are aware of the negative impacts their activities can have on people and the planet, with some even facing legal action. By strengthening obligations in terms of prevention, transparency and accountability, the CSDDD provides an essential complement to existing standards. Calling for its repeal even before it has been implemented is tantamount to undermining essential progress for human rights and the planet.
The European Union must reassert its commitment
Under the guise of "competitiveness", this initiative advocates a return to deregulation, the law of the lowest bidder, and the abandonment of European leadership on corporate responsibility.
If this demand were to be heard, the only winners would be those seeking to evade all responsibility, to the detriment of European citizens and affected populations around the world.
We call on the European Union and its Member States to preserve the integrity of standards that commit companies to respect human rights and the environment, and to confirm the momentum for accountability initiated under the previous legislative term.