470 civil society, trade unions and public interest groups tell President von der Leyen, European Commissioners and EU Member States that our rights, planet, health and justice are not for sale
The statement is also available in French, German, Spanish, and Dutch.
The EU risks a new race to the bottom. Under President Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission plans an unprecedented wave of drastic cuts to regulations that protect labour and social rights, human rights, digital rights, and the environment. The Commission and EU Member States might spend the next four years dismantling rules for companies operating in the EU.
Rules designed to ensure that we can live fair, just and healthy lives are already poorly-enforced. Despite clear warnings, they’re now being withdrawn, weakened or gutted of meaning at a truly unprecedented rate.
Eight months into its term, it’s clear that the Commission’s new “unprecedented simplification effort” really means ‘deregulation’. Regulations that protect us all from the excesses of corporate greed, that ensure we can breathe clean air and put a healthy meal on our family’s table are on the chopping block. Rules that ensure we can work in fair and safe conditions, protect nature, fight discrimination, tackle corruption, have access to fair and safe financial products, and stop corporations from violating our digital privacy – that keep us all safe for today and tomorrow – are being slashed.
The Commission’s insistence that this is about removing ‘superfluous red tape’ is not backed up by reality. They claim that trusting companies to do the right thing will make the bloc more “competitive” and that slashing rules is needed to boost “innovation” for EU companies. But plenty of sad affairs from EU history tell another story, including the financial crisis and Dieselgate.
EU rules are being cut so that shareholders can exploit people and the planet with fewer limits. Our protection is being sold out for profit, and our trust in democracy eroded.
New measures give corporations a seat at the top table of EU law-making,[1] while those acting in the public interest are excluded by decision-makers. Flawed consultation methods further privilege corporate access. Meanwhile, civil society organisations representing diverse, societal interests risk being marginalized by decision-makers. Making the situation worse, enforcement agencies and bodies are being hamstrung by austerity policies which cut their budgets and staff.
The Commission and Council of EU member states are trying to cut our protections on an almost daily basis. Several major proposals have been put rushed through without the Commission performing their duty in producing vital Impact Assessments. This is worsened by the use of the ‘urgent procedure’ which leaves no space for a democratic debate in the European Parliament.
Principles of rulemaking are vital to democracy. By taking shortcuts, the Commission silences critical voices, and reopens legislation which already resulted from a democratic process and therefore a compromise among political forces in the EU.
This perfect storm of deregulation runs the risk of empowering the far right and anti-democratic forces, enabling corruption, increasing inequalities, slow down the urgently needed climate action and environment protection, and depriving communities and workers of essential protections and services. The ‘simplification’ agenda has already gone too far:
Corporate accountability and justice are further away than ever: The Commission and Council have drastically undermined climate action, environmental protections and human rights obligations in supply chains, by thoroughly weakening the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. Transparency on companies’ sustainability level and efforts is being slashed by significantly reducing the scope of reporting companies in the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the EU Taxonomy.
Our habitats and biodiversity may lose essential protections, while chemicals threaten public health: The Commission has proposed to remove environmental obligations from its Common Agricultural Policy, including measures to protect wetlands and peatlands. EU chemical laws over cosmetics and labelling rules for hazardous chemicals are being targeted, while there are worrying indications that the proposed comprehensive ban on ‘forever chemicals’ (PFAS) will be weakened.
Pressure is taken off polluters: Delays in mandatory transformation plans to make polluting industrial sites cleaner, more circular, and climate-friendly are undermining public transparency and corporate accountability in the industrial transformation.
- Weakened climate targets serve corporate wishes instead of planetary needs: the EC, with strong backing from EU Member States, has proposed a 2040 target to reduce emissions by 90% compared to 1990, that includes plans to weaken the policy architecture established through the climate law by introducing several forms of flexibility. Introducing international credits within the EU climate targets would weaken EU’s level of ambition compared to a purely domestic target, which already lags behind its global fair share.
A decade of digital rights progress could be undone: the reopening of the backbone of the EU digital rulebook – the General Data Protection Regulation – means people’s sensitive data could be processed without protections. Further attacks on rights-based rules such as the AI Act, and the planned Digital Package, could undermine rules that protect all our digital lives against AI harms and surveillance from state and corporate actors.
A race to the bottom for workers: Cuts to social rights and protections loom, as the envisaged proposal for a ‘28th regime’ would offer companies a more lenient set of European rules. This is an open door for circumvention of national labour laws and trade union rights.
- More poverty: The Commission aims to redirect anti-poverty funds to support corporations and industries including tech and defence.
The path to a just and equitable society is eroding in front of our eyes: “The attempted withdrawal of the Horizontal Anti-Discrimination Directive clearly indicates that people and rights are not a priority for the European Commission (although there are reports that the Commission has rightly reconsidered due to civil society and political pressure). The only area where new rules are increasing are those for the punishment and surveillance of marginalised communities, in a context of increased spending, legislation and policies centred on criminalisation, surveillance and militarisation.
Financial reforms rolled back, paving the way for another crisis: Delays and numerous carve-outs are being introduced to the bank prudential capital rules agreed internationally after the global financial crisis 2007-2009. These rules are aimed at ensuring that banks manage their risks with sufficient buffers to cushion losses. In parallel, measures intended to support sustainable finance practices could be removed.
With these steps – a small selection of the many deregulation proposals, initiatives and strategies – the Commission claims to be making Europe friendlier for businesses and more competitive internationally. In doing so, they are creating a toxic and less equal world for workers, families, and vulnerable communities, and an uneven playing field for companies that want to conduct their business responsibly. In the long-term, the falsehood that it is too costly to protect people and the environment today will have an irreversible cost on our health, safety, rights, equality and freedoms tomorrow.
Instead of deregulation, we call on EU and national lawmakers to protect and promote the rights enshrined in the EU Charter and international human rights law:
- 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 for and accountability on 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 and 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.
In a time of extreme inequality, including wealth inequality, social and financial exclusion, climate destruction, democratic backsliding, surveillance capitalism, worker exploitation, deeply-embedded structural harms and discrimination and broad human rights violations: we call for more protections, not fewer!
Signed,[2]
EU
#DiasporaVote!
Access Now
ACT Alliance EU
Animal Advocacy & Food Transition
Biofuelwatch
CAN Europe
CEE Bankwacth
ChemSec
ClientEarth
Compassion in World Farming
CONCORD
Cool Heating Coalition
Corporate Europe Observatory
Counter Balance
Defend Democracy
Earth Thrive
Earthsight
ECOnGOOD
EFFAT — the European Federation of Food, Agriculture, and Tourism Trade Unions.
Emmaus Europe
End FGM EU
Environmental Justice Foundation
Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice
EU-LAT Network
European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare)
European Center for Not-for-Profit Law
European Civic Forum
European Coalition for Corporate Justice
European Digita Rights (EDRi)
European Disability Forum
European Environmental Bureau
European Grandparents for Climate – Europäische Großeltern für das Klima
European Heart Network
European Network Against Arms Trade
European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER)
European Public Health Alliance
European Public Service Union (EPSU)
European Trade Justice Coalition
European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF)
European Youth Forum
Fern
foodwatch International
Fossil Free Politics
Friends of the Earth Europe
Global Witness
Greenpeace European Unit
IFOAM Organics Europe
ILGA-Europe
JEF Europe
Just Shift
Partnership for Policy Integrity
People vs Big Tech
Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe
Plastic Change
Red europea Oficina Internacional de Derechos Humanos Acción Colombia (OIDHACO)
Red Europea OIDHACO (Oficina Internacional Derechos Humanos Acción Colombia)
REScoop.eu
SAFE – Safe Food Advocacy Europe
SHARE Foundation
Slow Food
Statewatch
Surfrider Foundation Europe
The European Institute for Animal Law & Policy
Union Syndicale Fédérale Service public européen et international
WeMove Europe
Wetlands International Europe
Zero Waste Europe
Global
350.org
ActionAid
Balanced Economy Project
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
Clean Clothes Campaign / Schone Kleren Campagne
Climate+Tech AI Think-tank for Resilience
Ekō
EKOenergy ecolabel
Environmental Investigation Agency
Fair Finance International
International Federation for Human Rights
Mondiaal FNV
Naturfreunde Internationale
Oil Change International
Oxfam
Public Services International
Rainforest Alliance
Stichting Solidaridad
Transnational Institute
WECF International
Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF)
Rest of the World
Action pour la Justice Environnementale AJE (Senegal)
Alliance pour les droits des femmes mauritaniennes ADFM (Mauritanie)
ALTSEAN-Burma (Myanmar)
ARRCC (Australian Religious Response to Climate Change) (Oceania)
Association Marocaine des Droits Humains (Morocco)
Association Mauritanienne des droits de l’Homme (Mauritanie)
ASSOCIATION SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INKINGI (Uganda)
California Nature Friends (USA)
Centro de Investigación y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos (CIPRODEH) (Honduras)
Centro de Políticas Públicas y Derechos Humanos (Perú EQUIDAD) (Peru)
Centro Hondureño de Promocion Para El Desarrollo Comunitario (Honduras)
DERECHO, AMBIENTE Y RECURSOS NATURALES-DAR (Peru)
Derechos Humanos y Medio Ambiente – DHUMA (Peru)
Forest Watch Indonesia (Indonesia)
Global Justice Ecology Project (USA)
Institute for Reasearch and Advovacy / Lingkaran Advokasi & Riset (Link-AR Borneo) (Indonesia)
ITEKA INITIATIVE (Uganda)
Lebanese Center for human Rights (Lebanon)
Les Mêmes Droits pour Tous (Guinea)
Ligue Burundaise des droits de l’homme Iteka (Burundi)
OpenMedia (Canada)
Red de Acción por los Derechos Ambientales (Chile)
Réseau des Défenseurs des Droits Humains en Afrique Centrale (REDHAC) (Cameroun)
Snow Alliance (China)
Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR) (Taiwan)
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) (USA)
Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (Vietnam)
Albania
Albanian Human Rights Group
Environmental center for Development Education and Networking (EDEN)
Trade Union Federation of Building, Wood and Public Services of Albania, TUBWPSA
TUFDCWA
Armenia
Health Workers Trade Organization of Armenia
HWUA
Union of State, Local Government and Public Service Employees of Armenia – USLGPSEA
Austria
AK EUROPA
Anders Handeln Austria
ARCHE NOAH
ARGE (Arbeitsgemeinschaft) Weltläden Österreich
Attac Austria
Austrian Alliance for Climate Justice
Austrian Trade Union Federation
Co-ordination Office of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference for International Development and Mission (KOO)
Degrowth Vienna
EU-Umweltbüro
fair sorgen!
Global 2000
NeSoVe
ÖBV – Via Campesina Austria
ÖKOBÜRO – Alliance of the Austrian Environmental Movement
Protect Our Winters Austria
Südwind, Austria
transform! Europe
Umweltdachverband
Volkshilfe Österreich
younion _ Die Daseinsgewerkschaft
Belgium
11.11.11
ACV Puls
ACV-CSC Belgium
Alliance Nationale des Mutualités Chrétiennes – Landsbond der christelijke mutualiteiten
BeeLife European Beekeeping Coordination
Biodynamic Federation Demeter International
BOS+
Broederlijk Delen
Carbon Market Watch
Centre tricontinental – CETRI
CNCD-11.11.11
De Landgenoten
Entraide & Fraternité
Eurogroup for Animals
European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW)
FIAN Belgium
Finance Watch
Fonds pour la Chirurgie Cardiaque
Food & Water Action Europe
FOS
Grands-Parents pour le Climat
Grootouders voor het Klimaat: Grandparents for Climate
Humundi
Jesuit European Social Centre (JESC)
Les Amis de la Terre – Belgique asbl
Oxfam Belgie/Belgizue
Rise for Climate Belgium
Rise For Climate Belgium
ShareAction
Solidair met Guatemala
SOLIDAR
Univers santé ASBL
Voedsel Anders Vlaanderen
Vredesactie
vzw Climaxi
WSM – We Social Movements
Bulgaria
AGROLINK Association
Environmental Association Za Zemiata, FoE Bulgaria
National federation Culture Podkrepa
Trade Union Federation of the Employees in the Ministry of Interior (TUFEMI)
Croatia
ACT Grupa
Assiciation Shift/Pomak
Association “Tatavaka”
Association BIOM
Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development Sunce
Association Hyla
Association Žmergo
Centre for Civil Initiatves Porec
Centre for Peace Studies
Centre for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights – Osijek
Community Foundation Slagalica
Croatian Platform for International Citizen Solidarity (CROSOL)
Croatian Youth Network
DEŠA Dubrovnik
Documenta-Center for Dealing with the Past
Domino
Dugine obitelji
Eco Hvar
Forum for Freedom in Education
Gong
kolekTIRV | For the rights of trans, intersex, and gender variant persons
Life Quality Improvement Organisation FLIGHT
Politiscope
Rehabilitation Centre for Stress and Trauma
Roditelji u akciji – Roda (Parents in Action)
Terra Hub
Udruga Zelena Istra
Zagreb Pride
Zelena akcija, Friends of the Earth Croatia
Cyprus
Friends of the Earth Cyprus
Czechia
Centre for Transport and Energy
Hnutí DUHA, Friends of the Earth Czech Republic
Limity jsme my
Odborový svaz zdravotnictví a sociální péče ČR (Trade Union of Health Service and Social Care of the Czech Republic)
Society for Sustainable Living
Denmark
Bedsteforældrenes KlimaAktion – Danmark
Global Aktion – People and Planet before profit
NOAH – Friends of the Earth Denmark
Estonia
Association of Estonian Energetics Workers’ Trane Unions
Estonian Green Movement
Finland
Attac Finland
Climate Grandparents Finland
CRASH – Coalition for Research and Action for Social Justice and Human Dignity
Fingo – Finnish development NGOs
Finnish Association for Nature Conservation
Finnish League for Human Rights
International Solidarity Foundation
Pro Ethical Trade Finland, Eetti
The Finnish Union of Practical Nurses
Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL
France
Adéquations
Amis de la Terre France
Association Addictions France
ATTAC France
AVICENN @VeilleNanos
Canopée
Cgt santé action sociale CGT
Collectif Ethique sur l’Etiquette
fédération CFDT Santé-Sociaux
Fédération Française des Apiculteurs Professionnels
Fédération Interco CFDT
Federation SEPANSO Aquitaine
France Nature Environnement
Generations Futures
GIET (groupe international d’études transdisciplinaires)
Global Health Advocates
LDH (Ligue des droits de l’Homme)
No plastic in my sea
Notre Affaire à Tous
OGM dangers
Quê Me: Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR)
Reclaim Finance
Réseau Action Climat
réseau Cler
ritimo
Sciences Citoyennes
Sherpa
SNICS-FSU Syndicat National des Infirmières conseillières de Santé -FSU
Syndicat national d´apiculture
Union Nationale de l’Apiculture Française
Zero Waste France
Georgia
Georgian Health Promotion and Education Foundation
Germany
Aktionsgemeinschaft Solidarische Welt (ASW) e.V.
AlgorithmWatch
Association of Ethical Shareholders Germany
bend not break
Breaking the Ice
Bund für Umwelt- und Naturschutz (BUND) e.V.
BUNDjugend
Bündnis für eine enkeltaugliche Landwirtschaft e.V
Coordination gegen BAYER-Gefahren
CorA-Netzwerk für Unternehmensverantwortung
D64 – Zentrum für Digitalen Fortschritt
Democracy International e.V.
Deutscher Imkerbund
Deutscher Naturschutzring e.V.
Die Bürokratiemonster
Digitale Gesellschaft
FIAN Deutschland e.V
Finanzwende
Forum Ökologie & Papier
Foundation on Future Farming / Zukunftsstiftung Landwirtschaft
Global Policy Forum Europe
Goliathwatch
Health and Environment Justice Support (HEJSupport)
Informationsstelle Peru e.V.
Initiative Lieferkettengesetz
Kampagne für Saubere Kleidung / Clean Clothes Campaign Germany
Kulturland-Genossenschaft
LobbyControl
NaturFreunde Deutschlands e.V.
Neuer Imkerbund e.V.
PowerShift e.V.
Shifting Advocacy
Unverpackt e.V. – Verband der Unverpacktläden
ver.di
World Economy, Ecology and Development
Greece
ENA Institute for Alternative Policies
ECOCITY
Electra Energy
European Economists for an Alternative Economic Policy in Europe EuroMemo Group
Homo Digitalis
Naturefriends Greece
Hungary
Clean Air Action Group
EVDSZ
Nagy Tavak és Vizes Élőhelyek Szövetsége (Great Lakes and Wetlands Association)
National Society of Conservationists – Friends of the Earth Hungary
Szakszervezetek Együttműködési Fóruma (SZEF)
Ireland
Energy Services Union
Fórsa
Friends of the Earth Ireland
Karan O Loughlin
SIPTU
Trócaire
Zero Waste Alliance Ireland
Italy
Attac Italia
FAIR
Fairwatch
FLAEI – Cisl
Forum Disuguaglianze e Diversità (Forum DD) https://www.forumdisuguaglianzediversita.org/our-project/
FP CGIL
Hermes Center
ISDE, International Society of Doctors for Environment Italy
LEGAMBIENTE
ReCommon
UIL PA (Unione Italiana dei Lavoratori Pubblica Amministrazione)
Union Syndicale Federale Ispra
WeWorld
Latvia
Green Liberty
Latvian Fund for Nature (LDF)
Lithuania
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ FEDERATION OF LITHUANIA
Lithuanian Industry Trade Union Federation
VšĮ “Žiedinė ekonomika”
Luxembourg
Action Solidarité Tiers Monde (ASTM)
ASTI asbl
Initiative pour un devoir de vigilance Luxembourg
Mouvement Ecologique
OGBL
Malta
Friends of the Earth Malta
General Workers’ Union
Moldova
Ecodigital NGO
ECO-TIRAS International Association of River Keepers
Netherlands
75inQ
Bits of Freedom
Comité Schone Lucht
Dutch Institute of Alcohol Policy STAP
FNV Overheid
Foodrise
Grootouders voor het Klimaat
Handel Anders!
Leefmilieu
Milieudefensie – Friends of the Earth Netherlands
Plastic Soup Foundation
Simavi
Stichting Demeter
Voedsel Anders NL
WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform
Working group Foodjustice
North Macedonia
Independent Trade Union of workers from energy and economy from Macedonia-SSESM
Norway
AVYO Vocational Union for Work and Welfare employees
Naturvernforbundet
Norwegian Nurses Organisation
The Norwegian Grandparents’ Climate Campaign, District of Agder
Poland
Fundacja Kupuj Odpowiedzialnie ( Buy Responsibly Foundation)
Fundacja Zielone Światło
Koalicja Klimatyczna
Living Earth Coalition
Moc Korzeni
Panoptykon Foundation
Polish Ecological Club
Rodzice dla Klimatu – Parents For Future Poland
Stowarzyszenie Pracownia na rzecz Wszystkich Istot
Portugal
Academia Cidadã
Campo Aberto
FAPAS – Associação Portuguesa para a Conservação da Biodiversidade
GAIA – Environmental Action and Intervention Group
Malha Cooperativa
Palombar – Associação de Conservação da Natureza e do Património Rural
Plataforma Transgenicos Fora
proTEJO – Movimento pelo Tejo
Quercus – Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza
STE-Sindicato dos Quadros Técnicos do Estado
TROCA – Plataforma por um Comércio Internacional Justo
ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável
Romania
Asociația Mai bine
Asociația pentru Tehnologie și Internet
Ecoteca
LEAGUE FOR DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ROMANIA
ROMAPIS
Serbia
SHARE Foundation
Sindikat zaposlenih u zdravstvu i socijalnoj zaštiti Srbije
UGS NEZAVISNOST
Slovakia
Druživa, o.z.
občianska iniciatíva Slovensko bez GMO/citizens initiative Slovakia without GMO
Občianske združenie Vidiecky parlament na Slovensku
OZ Vidiecky parlament na Slovensku
Slovenia
Danes je nov dan, Inštitut za druga vprašanja
Društvo Bodi svetloba
Društvo Ekologi brez meja
Društvo Humanitas – Center za globalno učenje in sodelovanje
Društvo Šolski ekovrtovi – AOGE
Focus Association for Sustainable Development
Institute Circle
Institute for climate solutions
Institute for Health and Environment
KSS PERGAM
Morigenos – Slovenian Marine Mammal Society
Peace Institute
PIC – Legal Center for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment
Policy Lab (Slovenia)
Povod Slovenia
Slovenian NCD Alliance
Slovenska filantropija
Trade Union of Professional Firefighters of Slovenia
Umanotera, The Slovenian Foundation for Sustainable Development
Spain
Algorights
Asociación Manuel Azaña
Associació Internacional d’Enginyeria Sense Fronteres
ASSOCIACIO RAUXA
Associació SUDS
ATAEC. Arts, Cultures & Climates glocal association
ATTAC España
CGT – Confederación General del Trabajo
CICrA Justicia Ambiental
Confederación Intersindical
Ecologistas en Acción
ELA
Entrepueblos Entrepobles Entrepobos Herriarte
FSS-CCOO
Fundación Ecología y Desarrollo-ECODES
Fundación Salud y Comunidad (Health and Community Fundation)
Hogar sin Tóxicos
International Association for Engineering Without Borders
IZQUIERDA UNIDA
JUSTICIA ALIMENTARIA
La Coordinadora de Organizaciones para el Desarrollo
Lafede – Justícia Global
Lurgatz Talde Feminista
Observatori del Deute en la Globalització
Observatori DESCA
Permacultura ATTA
Reds – Red de solidaridad para la transformación social
Sare Antifaxista
UGT SERVICIOS PUBLICOS
Sweden
Act Church of Sweden
Akademikerförbundet SSR
BirdLife Sverige
Civil Rights Defenders
Fackförbundet ST
Friends of the Earth Sweden
IM Swedish Development Partner
Swedish Municipal Worker’s Union
Vårdförbundet
Vision
Switzerland
Association Noé21
Bruno Manser Fonds
Gallifrey Foundation
Turkey
Alternatif Bilisim
İNSAN HAKLARI DERNEĞİ
Türkiye Sağlık ve Sosyal Hizmet İşçileri Sendikası(Turkey Health and Social Worker’s Union)
UK
Child Rights International Network (CRIN)
Earthsight
Fresh and Balance
GM Freeze
Mothers Rise Up
Truth About Plastic
[1] Measures such as ‘Implementation Dialogues, ‘Targeted Consultations’ and ‘Reality Checks’.
[2] Not all signatories work on all topics in depth. Signing this letter does not mean that all these organisations share the same priorities.