• Date: 09/06/2022, 10:00-12:00
• Location: WEBEX

Meeting details

Registration closes on: 02/06/2022 12:00

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In line with the EU Treaties, the EU promotes respect for human rights in the world, including respect for labour rights as part of a commitment to decent work. In this context, combatting forced labour and promoting due diligence standards are priorities of the EU’s agenda on business and human rights.

Due diligence plays an essential role in identifying, preventing, mitigating and accounting for the use of forced labour in value chains. Forced labour is explicitly prohibited by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and its use is addressed by existing EU legislation and forthcoming legislative initiatives (such as the Responsible Minerals Regulation 2017/821 and the proposals for a Batteries Regulation and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence).

The Commission and the EEAS have also published Guidance on due diligence to help EU companies address the risk of forced labour in their operations and supply chains, based on international standards.

As announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her State of the Union speech on 15 September 2021 and in the Communication on Decent Work Worldwide, the Commission recognises that further action is needed.

It therefore intends to table a legislative initiative, which will effectively prohibit the placing on the EU market of products made by forced labour (marketing prohibition). The prohibition would cover both domestic (EU) and imported products and combine a ban with a robust, risk-based enforcement framework.

The new instrument will build on international standards and complement existing horizontal and sectoral EU initiatives, in particular the due diligence and transparency obligations.

The Commission will publish a Call for Evidence in mid-May and aims at adopting the legislative proposal around mid-September.

The purpose of this meeting is to inform about the envisaged initiative, to exchange views and collect feedback from EU civil society organisations. The annotated agenda will be send to the participants shortly before the meeting by e-mail.

Speakers

• Head of Unit, Multilateral Trade and Sustainable Development Policy, Green Deal, Conflict Minerals, DG Trade, European Commission
• Head of Unit, Market Surveillance, DG Grow, European Commission

Moderator

• Civil Society Coordination – Transparency, Civil society and Communication Unit, Directorate-General for Trade, European Commission

Agenda

1. Introduction
2. Information by the Commission about the envisaged initiative
3. Open discussion with stakeholders

The meeting will take place via WEBEX. Access code and password will be sent to registered participants. We would be grateful if participants could launch their WEBEX connection at least 30 minutes in advance of the meeting so that any technical problems can be arranged in time before the meeting.

Related documents

• Call for evidence: Effectively banning products produced, extracted or harvested with forced labour
• Meeting presentation
• Meeting report