The Forced Labour Regulation creates a framework for investigation and enforcement against products made with forced labour.
On 19 November 2024, the EU Council (Council) adopted a regulation prohibiting products made with...more
12/2/2024
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Due Diligence ,
Enforcement ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Investigations ,
Member State ,
New Regulations ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The vote follows the European Commission’s proposal to delay application of the regulation by one year.
On 14 November 2024, the European Parliament (Parliament) voted in favour of the European Commission’s (Commission) ...more
11/19/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Due Diligence ,
Effective Date ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Parliament ,
Exporters ,
Green Initiatives ,
Importers ,
Manufacturers ,
Member State ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability
The announcement follows declarations to simplify regulatory frameworks for businesses, and an overall drive to increase competitiveness in Europe.
On 8 November 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen...more
11/13/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Competition ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The Commission published guidance documents to the regulation and proposed to postpone its entry into application to 30 December 2025....more
The regulation aims to restore 20% of the EU’s land and sea by 2030 and provide a launchpad for achieving long-term nature-related goals through 2050....more
6/28/2024
/ Biodiversity ,
Critical Habitat ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Habitat Conservation Plan ,
Land Preservation ,
Marine Life Protections ,
Member State ,
Natural Resources ,
Rehabilitation and Restoration Plans
The directive aims to reduce waste and bolster the repair sector.
On 2 February 2024, the European Parliament (Parliament) and European Council (Council) reached a provisional deal on a directive promoting the repair of...more
On 6 February 2024, the European Commission (Commission) presented its recommendations for the EU’s 2040 climate target, following a detailed impact assessment on potential emission reduction pathways. This publication aligns...more
For in scope companies, disclosures may be required as early as the reporting period for the 2024 financial year.
On 22 December 2023, the Commission Delegated Regulation specifying the first set of European...more
1/8/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
International Regulatory Standards ,
Materiality ,
Public Consultations ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
Political Agreement Reached on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Rules -
On 14 December 2023, the European Council (Council) and European Parliament (Parliament) reached a political agreement on the Corporate...more
The EU regulators are reviewing the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation introduced in 2021, exploring the need for potential additional adjustments.
On 14 September 2023, the European Commission initiated a...more
9/27/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Green Finance ,
Investment Products ,
SFDR ,
Sustainable Finance ,
UK
Importers into the EU of CBAM goods should be aware of their transitional reporting obligations under the new rules.
On 17 August 2023, the European Commission (Commission) adopted rules governing the implementation of...more
The adoption of the standards marks a key milestone for reporting under the CSRD.
On 31 July 2023, the European Commission (Commission) adopted the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), following a four...more
The Commission issued its formal consultation on the ESRS with a number of proposed changes.
On 9 June 2023, the European Commission (Commission) issued its formal consultation on the European Sustainability Reporting...more
6/16/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Comment Period ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Materiality ,
Member State ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability
An evolving landscape of reforms in the ESG ratings sector continues to pose challenges to providers of ratings and scores.
International momentum to regulate ESG ratings continues as the European Commission released a...more
6/16/2023
/ Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Data Collection ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Global Market ,
HM Treasury ,
India ,
IOSCO ,
Japan ,
Ratings ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
Regulatory Agenda
Trialogue negotiations have begun following the parliament’s vote.
On 1 June 2023, the European Parliament voted to adopt its initial negotiating position on the EU’s proposed Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence...more
The Commission has clarified requirements for financial product classifications and the definition of “sustainable investment” under the SFDR. ...more
5/24/2023
/ Alternative Investment Funds ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) ,
Financial Products ,
Investors ,
Market Participants ,
Marketing ,
Regulation Technical Standards (RTS) ,
SFDR ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
UCITS
The latest proposals show the direction of travel in the increasingly expanding web of consumer protection regulation on sustainable products and initiatives.
Background -
The European Green Deal, presented by the...more
As part of the European Green Deal ambitions, the proposal encourages sustainable consumption through additional incentives to repair products to reduce waste and emissions.
On 22 March 2023, the European Commission...more
3/30/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Commission ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Incentives ,
Net Zero ,
Repairs ,
Right to Repair ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Waste Management
The proposals form part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan and aim to scale up technology and materials for the energy transition.
On 16 March 2023, the European Commission (Commission) formally proposed two legislative...more
The Plan aims to “simplify, accelerate and align incentives to preserve the competitiveness and attractiveness of the EU as an investment location for the net-zero industry”.
On 1 February 2023, the European Commission...more
2/10/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Industrial Space ,
Manufacturers ,
Net Zero ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Supply Chain
Latham lawyers highlight key takeaways and developments in the sustainability space from the second half of the year.
...more
12/22/2022
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Forced Labor ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Investment Funds ,
Sustainability
The Council’s position includes a number of differences from the European Commission’s original proposal, including in relation to the requirement to diligence the broader value chain.
On 30 November 2022, the European...more
From 2024 at the earliest, more European and global companies will need to disclose their ESG activities in greater detail.
On 10 November 2022, the European Parliament adopted a final version of the Corporate...more
11/18/2022
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Commission ,
European Parliament ,
Financial Reporting ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The proposal highlights the growing global focus on companies’ human rights obligations not just towards employees but also towards workers in their supply chains.
On 14 September 2022, the European Commission (the...more
9/16/2022
/ Due Diligence ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Exports ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Manufacturers ,
Member State ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainable Business Practices
EU Parliament and Council reach agreement on CSRD -
European Parliament and European Council | 21 June 2022 -
The European Parliament and European Council reached a provisional political agreement on the terms of the...more
8/18/2022
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Blocked Mergers ,
Corporate Governance ,
Due Diligence ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Commission ,
European Parliament ,
Exemptions ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Sustainable Finance ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices