On 25 October European parliamentarians overwhelmingly voted (569 for, 54 against) for a resolution inviting the EU Member States and the EU Commission to adopt regulations on corporate liability for serious human rights abuses throughout their global supply chains. MEPs also advocated creating a certified “abuse-free” product label at EU level. Although the resolution is in no way binding it does indicate that the debate over multinational company duty of care is extending beyond the borders of the countries where initiatives in this vein have already been undertaken (France and the UK).
The European Parliament notes that “increasing globalization and internationalization of business activities and supply chains will make the role that corporations play in ensuring respect for human rights more important.” Against this backdrop it “calls on the EU and the Member States to lay down clear rules setting out that companies established in their territory or under their jurisdiction must respect human rights throughout their operations, in every country and context in which they operate, and in relation to their business relationships, including outside the EU.”
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