Kocher partly responsible for the failure of the law – Green surrender
Vienna (OTS/SK) – “The postponement of the vote on the supply chain law is very bad news in the fight for compliance with environmental standards and human rights. “Valuable time is again being lost to take action against forced and child labor as well as environmental pollution,” says the SPÖ’s foreign policy spokeswoman Petra Bayr, disappointed with today’s result in the negotiations on an EU-wide supply chain law. ****
Bayr is convinced that a supply chain law would be essential to finally hold large corporations accountable that do not adhere to basic and human rights or environmental standards along the production and distribution chains. “Unfortunately, Austria doesn’t play a commendable role here either. Minister Kocher’s abstention is one reason why the law was not positively adopted today. The ÖVP is once again showing its true interests, which coincide with those of the large corporations. And the Greens in the government have obviously once again capitulated to the ÖVP,” criticizes the SPÖ’s foreign policy spokeswoman.
A study by the Austrian Research Foundation for International Development (ÖFSE) used the Conflict Minerals Ordinance as an example to identify the following points that need to be taken into account in connection with binding supply chain laws: Firstly, there is no recognition of certification systems by the European Commission. But there has to be this recognition. Secondly, audits and mandatory accreditation must play a greater role in achieving the necessary quality standards. And thirdly, priorities must be set in training and further education. “These points only allow one conclusion: The European Commission must finally do its homework and implement these points within the framework of a supply chain law!” emphasizes Bayr, who concludes by criticizing: “At the moment the interests of profits are being put first and underpinned with the old bureaucracy argument. “That is not the right path or the way forward,” said Bayr. (End) sr/bj
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