WKÖ head: EU supply chain law needs to be improved

2024-02-09 17:26:20

Directive cannot be implemented in its current, immature form – business supports the position of Federal Minister Kocher – more realism instead of ideology

Vienna (OTS) – “A European law must fundamentally be applicable and implementable for companies. This is clearly not the case with the EU Supply Chain Act in its current form. It makes sense that the adoption of the law was postponed because the directive absolutely needs to be improved,” explained the Secretary General of the Chamber of Commerce, Karlheinz Kopf. Business supports the stance of Federal Minister Kocher, who does not want to agree to the Supply Chain Act in its current form. The proposal would not only massively damage the EU’s competitiveness, but would also counteract the fundamentally correct goal of strengthening high ethical and social standards outside the EU. “We need more realism and less ideology,” demands Kopf.

Austrian companies in particular are internationally known for their high ethical and social standards. “Our companies are already spreading these high standards out into the world through investments and supply relationships,” says Kopf, who warns of a lose-lose situation: “If the EU supply chain law prevents investments and international supply relationships of domestic companies or even leads to migration would fail its purpose and could worsen the status quo in third countries. In any case, we would endanger jobs and prosperity in the EU through the loss of competitiveness.” (PWK055/ST)