The letter on CSR by the National Assembly of the French Republic notes that undertakings cannot be confined to profit-making, while ignoring human rights as well as the social and environmental impact of their activities. The regulation on CSR in the EU legislation is fragmented and individual Member States have differing legislation on the subject.
The French National Assembly proposes requesting the European Commission to submit a legislative proposal regarding the implementation of the CSR principles. The legislation would apply to undertakings with a head office in an EU Member State, irrespective of the sector. Where necessary, a threshold can be determined to exempt the smallest companies from the regulation. However, the regulation should cover the parent undertakings and holding companies. In addition, the proposal may include vigilance obligations to be taken on by companies with regard to business contacts, subsidiaries, subcontractors and suppliers, in order to avoid any harm to social and natural environment and human health, which may affect employees, local residents and the environment as a result of direct or indirect action of the aforesaid companies. Moreover, the penalties to be provided for must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive or, where necessary, proportionate to the environmental, social damage or adverse effects on public health caused by non-compliance. The legislation would mainly apply to undertakings that have outsourced business activities to third countries.
The Committee on European Affairs supported the "green card" initiative, stressing the need for impact assessment of the envisaged legislative proposal.
The national Parliaments continue the debate on increasing their role in the EU through the creation of a "green card" mechanism allowing them to initiate European legislation, i.e. to provide the European Commission with proposals for new legislative action to revise, amend or repeal the existing legislation, including delegated and implementing acts. Although the "green card" procedures are still under discussion, it has been agreed to submit pilot "green card" drafts in order to test how the procedures work in practice. The proposals already submitted include the "green card" on the fight against food waste and the "green card" on the revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive.
