Activities of Andrzej GRZYB related to 2015/2315(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Corporate liability for serious human rights abuses in third countries (short presentation) PL
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on corporate liability for serious human rights abuses in third countries PDF (302 KB) DOC (111 KB)
Amendments (30)
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)
Citation 10 b (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 6 February 2013 on Corporate social responsibility: accountable, transparent and responsible business behaviour and sustainable growth4a, __________________ 4a Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0049.
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 c (new)
Citation 10 c (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 6 February 2013 on Corporate social responsibility: promoting society's interests and a route to sustainable and inclusive recovery5a, __________________ 5a Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0050.
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12
Citation 12
– having regard to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) revised Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, the Framework of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact, and the International Organisation for Standardisation’s ISO 26000 standard on ‘Guidance on Social Responsibility’ and the European Office of Crafts, Trades and Small and Medium sized Enterprises for standardization User Guide for European SMEs on ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility,
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14
Citation 14
– having regard to the Commission Green Paper entitled ‘Promoting a European framework for corporate social responsibility’7 and the definition of corporate social responsibility (CSR) contained therein, __________________ 7 COM(2001)0366.
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the European Parliament in its resolution of 6 February 2013 on Corporate social responsibility: accountable, transparent and responsible business behaviour and sustainable growth, drew attention to the special features of SMEs that CSR policies should take proper account of;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas the European Parliament in its resolution of 6 February 2013 on Corporate social responsibility: promoting society's interests and a route to sustainable and inclusive recovery, agreed that SMEs need a flexible CSR approach adapted to their potential;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas trade and human rights reinforce each other, and whereas the business community, while obliged to respect human rights, may also have an important role to play in offering positive incentives in terms of promoting human rights, democracy, environmental standards and corporate responsibility;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas the EU has played a leading role in negotiating and implementing a number of initiatives for global responsibility which go hand in hand with the promotion and respect of international standards; whereas the long-term positive impact on human rights of European businesses operating globally and leading by example through a non-discriminatory corporate culture is acknowledged; whereas strengthening trade relations based on the protection and enforcement of human rights enhances mutual understanding and common values such as the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas a significant number of corporations operating in third countries are based in Europe, are owned by European corporations, have assets or goods in Europe or control other corporations in Europe; whereas there is a practice whereby European corporations outsource activities to local suppliers or use goods or services in their production chains that have been produced or provided by other corporations in countries where human rights standards are lower or enforcement and victim protection are legally or factually lacking;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas, where human rights are breached, appropriate and effective remedies are required; whereas a fairer and more effective remedies system is needed including a fairer system under domestic law to deal with human rights violations committed by business enterprises;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Is deeply concerned at thewith cases of serious human rights violations committed in third countries bydue to corporations and business enterprises management decisions;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reaffirms the urgent need to act in a continuous, effective and coherent manner at all levels, including international, national and European level, in order to effectively address the legal problems resulting from the extra-territorial dimension of companies and of their conduct, and the related uncertainty as to where the liability for human rights violations lies;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recognises the major importance of CSR and welcomes the growing use of instruments based on CSR and the self- commitment by corporations; strongly emphasises, however, that avoiding violations of human rights is not a matter of charity or something to be done on a voluntary basis but a legal obligation on enterprises and their management, wherever they may act and whatever their size or industrial sector;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Reiterates that there cannot be a 'one size fits all' approach to CSR recognising that the profusion of various CSR initiatives, although demonstrating awareness of the importance of CSR policies, can generate additional costs, be a barrier to implementation and undermine trust and fairness; expresses its believe that there must be sufficient flexibility when implementing CSR guidelines to cater for the specific requirements of each Member State and region, with particular regard to the capacities of SMEs; welcomes the Commission's active cooperation with the participation of the Parliament and the Council together with other international bodies to achieve a fundamental convergence of CSR initiatives in the long term and the exchange and promotion of good corporate practice regarding CSR, as well as to push forward the guidelines found in the International Standard ISO 26000 so as to ensure a single global, coherent and transparent definition of CSR; urges the Commission to contribute effectively to the guidance and coordination of EU Member State policies, thereby minimising the risk of additional costs being incurred by businesses operating in more than one Member State as a result of divergent provisions;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Reiterates that attention needs to be drawn to the special features of SMEs, which mainly operate at local and regional level inside specific sectors; considers it essential, therefore, for Union CSR policies, including national CSR action plans, to take proper account of the specific requirements of SMEs, to be in keeping with the 'think small first' principle, and to recognise the informal, intuitive SME approach to CSR; voices again its opposition to all measures that could result in additional administrative or financial constraints for SMEs, and its support for measures enabling SMEs to take joint action;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Warmly welcomes the preparationworks initiated ofn a binding UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights, and strongly calls for the EU Member States and the EU itself to promote and take part in this process;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls the different but complementary roles of states and companies with regard to human rights protection; recalls that states have a duty to protect everyone within their jurisdiction, including against human rights abuses committed by companies, even if they operate in third countries; strongly recalls that, where human rights abuses occur, the victims’ states must grant them access to an effective remedy, and points out that the EU shares that duty with regard to areas of exclusive or shared competence;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on all national and international authorities to ensure that bindingeffective instruments devoted to the effective protection of human rights in this field are adopted as a matter of urgency and as widely as possible, and that all obligations stemming from the abovementioned international rules are enforcedkept;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Member Sall states to implement the UNGPs swiftly and robustly, including by developing National Action Plans; deplores that, notwithstanding the Commission’s 2001 CSR communication, only a fewencourages remaining Member States haveto adopted CSR statements or, policies that mention human rights or haveto published their plans on business and human rights, in accordance with the Commission's 2001 CSR communication;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for the Member States to legislate in a coherent, holistic, effective and binding manner in order to meet their duty to prevent, investigate, punish and redress human rights violations, including those perpetrated in third countries, directly or indirectly, by corporations acting under their jurisdiction;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Member Sall states to lay down clear requirements as to the fact that companies domiciled in their territory and/or jurisdiction must respect human rights throughout their operations, in every country and context in which they operate; considers that they should ensure that they have systems in place to assess risks and mitigate potential negative impacts related to human rights, labour, environmental protection and disaster- related aspects of their operations and value chains, and periodically assess the adequacy of such laws and address any shortcomings;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Takes note with satisfaction that, as a result of the revision of the existing Accounting Directives regarding the disclosure of non-financial and diversity information, large companies and groups will be required, as from 2017, to disclose information on policies, risks and results as regards their respect for human rights and related issues; urges the Member States to implement the Revised Accounting Directive by 6 December 2016within the adopted time frame;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Member Sall states to take any appropriate steps to ensure, through judicial, administrative, legislative or other appropriate means, that when such human rights violations occur, those affected have access to an effective remedy, piercing the veil of the legal personality, when a corporation based in the EUgiven state holds, directs or controls companies that are responsible for human rights violations in othirder countries; calls on the Member Sall the states to take appropriate steps to reduce legal, practical and other relevant barriers that could lead to a denial of access to remedy;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Considers that collective redress mechanisms could potentially decrease the costs of litigation for victims of human rights infringements; wWelcomes the recommendation on collective redress adopted by the Commission9 and regrets that only a few Member States have complied with it; encourages all Member States to comply withfollow this recommendation; __________________ 9 OJ L 201, 26.7.2013, p. 60.
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the non-binding private sector initiatives for responsible supply chain management introduced by the Commission’s services, but stresses that non-binding private sector initiatives are by themselves not sufficient; calls for urgent binding and enforceable rules and related sanctions and and encourages further steps in this direction; calls for independent monitoring mechanisms;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28