on the line of fire
Criticism of EU corporate disclosure regulations is not new. In a leaked policy document drafted by former German finance minister Christian Lindner, he said Berlin should aim to abolish EU regulations such as sustainability reporting rules.
The proposal echoes one made by French Prime Minister Michel Barnier in October, who argued that some EU rules on corporate sustainability reporting would be delayed by up to three years.
But once EU countries express dissatisfaction with EU law, it takes a long time for Brussels to actually do something about it.
Not everyone is convinced by Ms. von der Leyen’s assurances that simplification will not lead to weaker regulation. “Of course I’m worried,” said Marie Toussaint, a member of parliament from France’s Green Party and former rapporteur on the corporate sustainability reporting directive.
After all, the proposed extension of the deforestation law ended up being the catalyst for an attempt to eviscerate centre-right MPs from Ms von der Leyen’s political group, the European People’s Party (EPP).
Toussaint argues that the common political line in the European Parliament and in EU countries is to blame regulation, especially environmental regulations, for Europe’s lack of competitiveness. “This is the opposite of what we were saying five years ago, that protecting Europe’s competitiveness is about ensuring that the best products are produced in the best conditions,” she said. said.