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UN Binding Treaty: time for constructive engagement from the EU and member states

UN Binding Treaty: time for constructive engagement from the EU and member states

Statement

14 October 2019

This week, during the fifth IGWG session(opens in new window) in Geneva, governments have the chance to negotiate a legally binding UN Treaty that requires transnational corporations and businesses from every country to respect our planet and our human rights. 600.000 European citizens, as well as the European Parliament, are demanding that the EU and its member states should act in good faith and work to deliver a treaty to ensure that businesses respect human rights.

International law lags behind economic reality

So far, the lack of substantive EU engagement in the UN Treaty process is, for example, in stark contrast with the EU’s strong push for the expansion and enforcement of investor rights in bilateral agreements. Rather than further prioritising corporate interests over people’s rights and the environment, the EU should invest that level of effort and engagement for protection against harmful business activities. Therefore, SOMO and other organisations call on the EU and its member states to engage more constructively in regards to the contents and process of the UN Treaty.