FuelsEurope is convinced that corporate social responsibility contributes to a sustainable, long-term economic and social development. The refining sector is committed to respecting human rights, while its business practices reflect elements of well-established international instruments such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Businesses.
In this context, we recognise the potential of due diligence in order to support respecting human rights and preserving the environment, and we acknowledge the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)'s ambition to create a harmonised legislative framework for due diligence.
However, the increasing number of compliance obligations may risk diverting valuable and limited resources, leading to a loss of competitiveness of the EU economy. European companies already operate in a complex regulatory framework that includes the general principles of tort law and transparency obligations for listed companies, EU-derived legislation on corporate, criminal, and environmental liability, shareholders' rights, carbon market obligations, sustainability reporting, consumers' rights, and much more.
Throughout the legislative process, FuelsEurope has called on the Co-legislators to ensure the clarity, predictability, and proportionality of the new rules, the creation of a levelled playing field both within the EU and in relation to third countries, the prevention of overlaps with existing legislation, and the minimisation of administrative burden on companies. Moreover, any legislation in the field should be based on the principle that businesses create value, thus avoiding a punitive approach.
FuelsEurope also welcomed the European Commission’s initiative for an Omnibus on corporate sustainability, and remains committed to engaging in the legislative process to promote a legal framework that is clear, proportionate, and workable in practice.