Brussels, 9 September 2025. Through a so-called "Omnibus package", the European Union is currently undertaking drastic cuts to laws aimed at protecting labour, social, human and digital rights as well as the environment. Under the cover of "simplifying" sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements for businesses operating in the EU market, the EU in fact plans to dismantle these rules.
Civil society organisations condemn the unprecedented wave of deregulation at the EU level, which threatens the rights of affected communities, trade unions, workers and consumers, human rights defenders, and civil society.
Instead, EU legislators and Member States should guarantee the protection of these rights and the environment, and ensure that stakeholders are meaningfully consulted in EU and national law-making.
The signatories of the letter, including FIDH and 21 of its member and partner organisations, call on EU and national lawmakers to:
– Pass laws for stronger protections for social welfare, workers, consumers, anti-discrimination, justice, climate and environmental justice, privacy and data protection, and against toxic chemicals;
– Demand more transparency and accountability from companies, as well as access to justice for those harmed;
– Take responsibility for the negative impact of EU activities, such as mining, insufficient climate targets, and toxic chemicals, on other regions and communities;
– Enable the implementation and enforcement of laws protecting rights, justice, and public interests by providing more resources for enforcement authorities, implementation guidance, and support for digital rules;
– Reinforce protections for civil society organisations, trade unions, human rights defenders, journalists, and activists;
– Guarantee that civil society, trade unions, impacted communities, and other representative public interest actors are meaningfully consulted, included, and respected in EU and national law-making.
Read the full statement here.