NGOs challenge EU Commission’s Omnibus proposal

A group of NGOs has lodged an official complaint with the EU’s institutional watchdog to challenge the European Commission’s Omnibus proposal, on the grounds that it was developed in an “undemocratic, untransparent and rushed way”.

In a complaint lodged with the European Ombudsman, the campaigners argue that not only does the Omnibus “water down” key sustainability regulations that were only recently adopted, but it has done so without proper consultation.

A ‘flawed’ legislative process

The European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ), ClientEarth, Notre Affaire À Tous, Clean Clothes Campaign, Global Witness, T&E, Anti-Slavery International, and Friends of the Earth Europe accuse the European Commission of failing to properly gather evidence and assess the environmental and social impacts of amending laws that seek to protect citizens in Europe and beyond.

They also note that the Commission favoured closed-door meetings that included oil and gas lobbies – echoing the transparency concerns repeatedly expressed by a variety of stakeholders throughout the Omnibus development process.

More importantly, the group argues that the Commission failed to assess whether the proposed changes to CSRD and CSDDD are aligned with the EU’s climate targets – in breach of its obligations under the European Climate Law. 

Read also: World Benchmarking Alliance’s Richard Gardiner on the EU Omnibus

EU Omnibus: ‘A reckless move’

With these arguments, the complaint asks the Ombudsman to open an inquiry into the Omnibus legislative process, and calls on the EU Council and Parliament to reject the proposal entirely. 

“We are contesting the Commission’s rushed dismantling of three key pillars of the Green Deal – including laws meant to improve the environmental and human impacts of global trade – a  process that completely disregards people and nature’s rights.

“The Omnibus proposal was made without any public consultation, sidelining civil society, with a lack of evidence or environmental and social impact assessments, and with a primary focus on narrow industry interests. This reckless move not only weakens sustainability rules but also damages public trust in the EU’s democratic foundations,” they wrote in a statement.

Based on the Council's newly published draft position paper on the Omnibus, opposition to the proposal is unlikely. The European Parliament, however, appears more divided on the issue.