The EU is Selling Out People and the Planet

Today, civil society, trade unions, and public interest groups delivered a clear message to Commission President von der Leyen, the European Commissioners, and EU Member States in a statement signed by 470 organisations. They denounce the deregulation campaign that takes centre stage in the European Commission’s strategy for this term and demand protection for people and the planet, nor for big business. 

Tomorrow, President Ursula von der Leyen will address the European Parliament with her ‘State of the Union’ speech. Nine months on under her leadership, the European Commission is planning an unprecedented wave of drastic cuts to regulations protecting labour, social, and human rights, as well as digital rights, and the environment for the benefit of a few multinationals.

The Commission’s so-called “simplification” agenda is nothing more than deregulation: slashing hard-won protections for workers, social rights, human rights, digital rights, and the environment. The weakened social and environmental safeguards may also lead to big, often highly profitable corporations and private investors getting more and easier access to EU and member states’ public money with very few strings attached. It is a missed opportunity to use public support to steer the private sector towards more social and sustainable practices. 

Key safeguards are under attack:

• Climate and environmental rules are being weakened to serve corporate interests.
• Climate action, environmental protections and human rights obligations in supply chains could be undermined.
• Digital rights are under attack, meaning less privacy and more profiling and advertisement on our mobile phones.
• Labour protections risk being bypassed through a “28th regime.”
• Anti-poverty funds are redirected to support corporations and industries including tech and defence.

Our demands:

• Pass laws for stronger protections for welfare, workers, consumers, climate, environment, privacy and against toxic chemicals.
• Demand more transparency and accountability from companies, with access to justice for those harmed.
• Take responsibility for negative impacts of EU activities on the Global South.
• Provide resources for enforcement authorities and support for implementation of rules.
• Reinforce protections for civil society, trade unions, human rights defenders, journalists and activists.
• Guarantee meaningful consultation and inclusion of public interest actors in EU and national law-making.

Together with hundreds of organizations across Europe and worldwide, we affirm that our rights, our health, our planet and our future are not for sale.