Following the decision to open the ‘stop the clock’ urgency procedure on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the ETUC is calling on all MEPs to vote down the postponement of the directives.
There is no urgency – only a political agenda. The urgency procedure is being misused to push through a delay that serves corporate interests and weakens hard-won protections for workers and human rights. This is not about time; it is about power – and the European People’s Party (EPP) and Renew have chosen to wield that power alongside the far-right in favour of deregulation.
What we are witnessing is not a pause, but a real U-turn – a pivot towards dismantling the European social model. The EPP and Renew groups in the European Parliament and their business allies do not simply want to stop the clock, they want to turn it back. Back to a Europe where corporations are not accountable, workers are commodities, and human rights are optional.
We welcome that the progressive forces in the Parliament – the Social Democrats, the Greens, and The Left – are standing firm against deregulation of workers’ rights. It is now time for all pro-European forces to unite in defence and promotion of the values that define the European Union.
Isabelle Schömann, ETUC Deputy General Secretary:
“Let’s be clear: the EPP and Renew have chosen the side of corporate impunity over human dignity. By aligning with the far-right, they have betrayed the workers and citizens of Europe.
“We are very disappointed von der Leyen put forward this proposal. This is a blatant misuse of the urgency procedure. There is no urgency – only a political strategy to sabotage legislation that protects workers, their families and the planet.
“Instead of simplification the European Commission has let the mask slip and has set in motion a deregulation machine that serves corporate greed and silences the voices of labour.
“Progressives are standing firm. The Social Democrats, the Greens and the Left joint forces to defend workers' rights and responsible business respectful of the environment and the people. Together, we will not allow European values to be betrayed. Let's discuss real simplification and not deregulation.
“We will fight this rollback with everything we have. This is a turning point – not just for due diligence laws, but for the soul of Europe. Workers will not be silenced.”
