Dies ist eine HTML Version eines Anhanges der Informationsfreiheitsanfrage 'Meeting between Breton and BusinessEurope'.



Ref. Ares(2022)3404712 - 03/05/2022
From:
 (CAB-BRETON)
To:
CAB BRETON ARCHIVES
Subject:
Readout - Meeting between 

 BusinessEurope, accompanied by 

 BusinessEurope, and Commissioner Breton on Sustainable Corporate Governance, 11 January
2022
Date:
lundi 7 février 2022 17:47:26
Meeting between 

 BusinessEurope, accompanied by 
,
 BusinessEurope, and Commissioner Breton on Sustainable Corporate
Governance, 11 January 2022
· 
 thanked the Commissioner for the meeting, following the letter that the
BusinessEurope sent on the upcoming proposal.
· He underlined that getting the proposal right is essential for European companies and they
see an added value of harmonised rules on due diligence in the Single Market. Such rules
should focus on obligation of means, do not impose undue burden on SMEs, target
largest companies, and should be limited to the first tier suppliers.
· Commissioner Breton assured that the proposal remains a priority for the Commission and
the aim is proportionate and effective legislation, focusing on obligation of means.
· The key objectives of the proposal are: 1) to avoid the fragmentation of the single market
and diverging national laws; 2) build on existing international standards – such as the
OECD and the United Nations and 3) ensure a level playing field with companies from
third countries.
· Commissioner underlined that there is a need to cover the whole supply chain and due
diligence cannot stop at Tier 1. Covering the whole chain is feasible, for example through
appropriate contractual clauses and their cascading.
· 
 outlined that companies would need support, for example through transparency
tools, to get information in the supply chains. Commissioner Breton found the idea
interesting, in the context of a toolbox to help companies with the compliance, and
suggested to follow up with the teams.
· 
 pleaded not to weaken current corporate governance models and blurring
directors’ duties. Commissioner Breton highlighted this issue is being carefully looked
into following the feedback received from the public consultation and various
stakeholders to ensure a well calibrated and justified approach on directors’ duties.