EU agrees new social, environmental reporting rules for large companies
Renewable energy
(BRUSSELS) - MEPs and EU governments struck a provisional deal Tuesday on new reporting rules for large companies, with obligations to disclose their impact on environment, human rights, social standards and work ethics.
Currently, non-financial information that companies are currently incentivised to report is deemed largely insufficient for investors and other stakeholders. Reported data can also be hard to compare. Investors and civil society want to know about the impact that companies have on people and the environment.
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will make businesses more accountable by obliging them to disclose their impact on people and the planet. This aims to end greenwashing and lay the groundwork for sustainability reporting standards at global level.
The new EU sustainability reporting requirements will apply to all large companies (with over 250 employees and a 40 million euro turnover, as defined in the Accounting directive), whether listed or not. Companies will have to report on their impact on the environment, human rights, social standards and work ethics, based on common standards.
The agreement stipulates that the information companies provide on their impact on the climate or human rights will be independently audited and certified. Financial and sustainability reporting will be on an equal footing and investors will finally have access to reliable, transparent and comparable data.
The directive will apply to non-EU companies as well. Those with substantial activity in the EU market (150 million euro in annual turnover in the EU) will have to follow equivalent reporting rules. Member states will supervise compliance with the help of the Commission.
A handful of SMEs listed on public markets will be subject to lighter reporting standards. MEPs managed to secure the possibility for them to opt out of the new system until 2028. MEPs also inserted guarantees so subcontractors can only be asked by their contractual partners to provide information according to a lighter version of reporting standards.
Parliament and Council will have to formally approve the agreement before it is published in the EU Official Journal. It will enter into force 20 days after publication and its provisions will have to integrated into member states' national laws after 18 months.
Further information, European Parliament
Corporate sustainability reporting, European Commission
FAQ on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive proposal, European Commission