Behind the Omnibus I “simplification package” lies the exploitation of people and planets - when profit becomes more important than life.
In February 2025, the European Commission presents Omnibus I, a “simplification package” aimed at reducing red tape and boosting competitiveness.
The Omnibus I package includes changes in two key directives:
What exactly is it about?
CSRD introduces a reporting obligation for certain small and medium-sized enterprises and for large enterprises on their impact on:
This means that companies must demonstrate how their business affects these areas, and report to the investors and general public (including civil society organisations and trade unions).
CDDDD obliges large companies (+1000 employees) to identify and eliminate risks to human rights, the environment and the climate that arise throughout their value chain (from the producer to the final consumer). This includes a commitment to take concrete steps to prevent negative impacts on people and the planet.
Large companies must take measures to prevent modern slavery, forced labor, or mistreatment of workers in other countries.
What's going on?
The right-wing of the European Parliament aggressively pushes “competitiveness” as an excuse for mass deregulation, which means abolition of the civil liability of corporations for their negative impacts on people and the planet.
The Omnibus I package takes us backwards and aligns with a political agenda that puts profits of large corporations before human rights and common sense.
This package abolishes the protection of workers, destroys the EU's social and climate priorities, and opens the door to corporate irresponsibility and exploitation.
What will come next?
Large corporations are not required to know what is happening in their value chain.
Examples:
Abuse is a daily reality for female garment workers for Gap and H&M, says report
Companies move their operations to countries where workers' rights are violated, hourly wages are exploited and workers are underpaid
Examples:
Labour rights in Europe 'at worst state for a decade'
Oil giants can continue to destroy the planet without consequences, in the name of profit
Examples:
Chevron's Environmental Crimes: 13 Years of Evasion and Escalation
Who's afraid?
Energy powers and large corporations “ordered” to attack CSDDD and CSRD. Why? Stricter regulation could challenge their business practices which often neglect human rights and the environment, especially in countries where the exploitation of nature and the violation of workers' rights are not sufficiently regulated.
This is how Croatian MEPs voted on the Omnibus I package:
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