German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the cancellation of the European Union’s supply chain law, known as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), during his first official visit to Brussels as head of government.
Speaking alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday, Merz said: “We will revoke the national law in Germany. And I also expect the European Union to follow suit and really cancel this directive.”
The directive, adopted in 2023 and set to take effect from 2028, is designed to hold large companies accountable for human rights violations within their global supply chains, including issues such as child and forced labour. It forms part of von der Leyen’s broader initiative to strengthen environmental and human rights standards in corporate governance.
While the directive has been praised by human rights groups, parts of the business community have voiced concerns over what they describe as excessive administrative requirements that could hinder competitiveness across Europe.
Merz, a member of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), expressed support for the Commission’s ongoing efforts to reduce bureaucracy in other policy areas.
