Omnibus is simply a set of proposed legislative changes aimed at simplifying corporate work regulations and reporting on sustainable improvement in the European Union. It includes 3 key legal acts: the Corporate due diligence Directive for sustainable improvement (CSDD), the Sustainable improvement Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the EU taxation Code defining which investments can be considered sustainable.
All these provisions are the consequence of far-reaching compromises. For example, 3 years ago, investments in gas were considered sustainable and green. This was done against the facts and negative opinions of the Committee on Environment and Economics, sustaining the green light for the Russian gas that the EU is inactive buying, and the US LNG, which was the main "solution" to the energy crisis prepared by EU decision-makers. Can we number on the United States and their ‘tan’ gas – with large environmental and wellness costs for people surviving in both the US and EU countries – at a time erstwhile 1 Donald Trump decision stops military aid for Ukraine?
Although the changes proposed by the European Commission are presented as a way of reducing the administrative burden, peculiarly for tiny and medium-sized companies, many experts and social organisations indicate that the proposals will weaken the EU's commitment to climate policy, undermining the achievements so far in this area. This will affect not only the safety of future generations, but the wellness of millions of EU citizens and social sentiments now. The deficiency of a fair transition and pro-social policies will fuel support for the populist utmost right, which does not even effort to pretend that it cares about stopping climate change, while at the same time hounding refugees and immigrants. And these, with the increase in average temperatures, will arrive.
Warm conditions for exploitation and greewashing
Omnibus will besides make access to courts in the EU much more difficult. The anticipation of collective actions will disappear, so NGOs and trade unions will lose the chance to represent victims of exploitation and environmental degradation. associate States will be able to apply the law of the country where the infringement took place, alternatively of EU standards, in practice this means that companies in countries with weaker regulations will have even more freedom to violate human rights.
There is besides no work to effectively implement climate plans. Fuel companies can promise to decision distant from oil, gas or coal, on paper declare zero-emission and forget about it the next day – and have no consequences.
The CSRD, the EU reporting standard to supply investors with reliable information on the environmental and social impact of companies, is being limited. As many as 80% of companies will be exempted from reporting and those that will proceed to be covered will receive an additional 2 years to adapt. deficiency of transparency will make excellent conditions for greenwashing and further concealing the real effects of corporate activities.
What does Poland say?
The European Union has built mechanisms for years to guarantee greater corporate responsibility. However, the opposition to the regulation of the EGG (environmental, social and management) is strong – especially from the business lobby and conservative politicians. If the Omnibus Package comes into force, we will take a step, not thousands of steps back. It's not easy, it's dismantling.
Over 360 civilian society organisations from 53 countries call on the EU Council and the European Parliament to reject any amendments weakening the CSDD Directive. Although the Omnibus package has already been presented by the European Commission, the proposals will inactive be discussed – and any are already in Europe and the EU Council. The Polish government may object to them, but there is no announcement that they intend to do so.
"If we go bankrupt, no 1 will care about the environment in the planet anymore," said the Prime Minister little than 2 months ago Donald Tusk, and Polish media rightly compared this rhetoric to Trumpian visions of the future. I, too, do not want Europe to become "a continent of naive people and ideas", but the slave work of children – due to the fact that this would besides facilitate the announced changes – and energy policy as in "drill, baby, Drill" we will not be able to warrant competitiveness.
It is time for Donald Tusk, alternatively of changing the word "deregulation" by all cases, to simplify the rules where it will have a affirmative impact on labour law, our economical development, and at the same time defend our citizens and citizens from crises, which are frequently the consequence of abuse of the biggest players in the marketplace – besides in terms of energy transformation.
**
Victoria Jędroszkowiak – Activist, deals with the fight for social justice and climate transformation, primarily in terms of moving distant from burning fossil fuels. Co-founder of the east Initiative, she conducts the Young Poland broadcast on Radio TOK FM.
