The EU Parliament has voted to postpone the application dates for new EU laws on due diligence and sustainability reporting requirements, giving the biggest companies one more year to prepare for new due diligence rules.
The new due diligence rules – part of wider simplification efforts aimed at strengthening the EU’s competitiveness – require companies to mitigate their negative impact on people and the planet.
Member states will now have an extra year – until 26 July 2027 – to transpose the rules into national legislation.
The one-year extension will also apply to the first wave of businesses to be affected, that is, EU companies with over 5,000 employees and net turnover higher than €1.5 billion, and non-EU companies with a turnover above this threshold in the EU. These companies will only need to apply the rules from 2028.
The date of application will be the same for the second wave of companies, that is, those in the EU with over 3,000 employees and net turnover higher than €900 million, and non-EU companies with turnover above that threshold in the EU.
Application of the sustainability reporting directive will also be delayed by two years for the second and third waves of companies covered by the legislation. Large companies with more than 250 employees will be required to report on their social and environmental measures for the first time in 2028 for the previous financial year, while listed small and medium-sized enterprises will have to provide this information one year later.
To speed up adoption of the measures, the Parliament have agreed to deal with the file under its urgent procedure. To enter into force, the draft law now requires formal approval by the Council, which endorsed the same text on 26 March 2025.
New due diligence rules (European Parliament)
Sustainability reporting directive
Further information, European Parliament
