Politicians and diplomats vs Omnibus: the transition to a fair and sustainable economy cannot wait

A group of 20 leading figures in the political and diplomatic fields, including former EU Commissioners, ministers and UN representatives, have published an open letter entitled Safeguarding the EU Sustainability Framework to reiterate the importance of the European regulatory apparatus on sustainability. The document is addressed to the institutions and governments of the European Union and expresses concern about the approach of the Omnibus I package. In particular, the main messages that emerge are:

1. The transition to a more equitable and sustainable economy cannot wait. The impacts of climate change are already evident in ecosystems and societies around the world, bringing with them significant economic costs and social challenges. These impacts must be addressed urgently, in line with the scenarios outlined by the scientific community.
2. The dichotomy between sustainability and social responsibility on the one hand, and efficiency and competitiveness on the other is false. On the contrary, these goals are compatible and mutually reinforcing: a strong commitment to sustainability strengthens competitiveness, increases resilience, reduces risks and contributes to the creation of value and trust in the long term.
3. It is important to support competitiveness based on innovation and social justice — not on a race to the bottom of cost-cutting or the erosion of welfare standards and human rights, both within the EU and in third countries. Europe must maintain this moral leadership not only within its own borders, but throughout the highly internationalised value chains of large companies operating in its territory.

The signatories also reiterate that the transition to a more sustainable and fair economy is not only a challenge, but also a strategic opportunity to build a more autonomous and resilient European Union in the face of external crises and shocks. This is particularly important in key sectors such as energy, the supply of critical raw materials and the stability of supply chains. Achieving decarbonisation targets will require transformative changes in production models, supported by public policies that promote transparency and create clear incentives – and disincentives – for market actors. “Clear sustainability rules create certainty and build trust among consumers and financial markets, encouraging investment in innovation and clean technologies that support Europe's social and climate goals. On the contrary, weakening such regulations risks undermining incentives to develop sustainable technologies and business models within the EU,” they write, adding: “We acknowledge the efforts made by businesses and other actors who recognise the importance of ensuring the environmental and social sustainability of their activities. We call for a stable and coherent regulatory framework that provides legal certainty and actively promotes responsible business behaviour.”

The authors of the document include Joaquín Almunia , Vice-President of the European Commission and EU Commissioner (Spain), Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein , United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (Jordan), Josep Borrell , Representative of the European Union and Vice-President of the European Commission (Spain), Zdzisław (Dzidek) Kędzia , Chair of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Poland), John H. Knox , Professor of International Law at Wake Forest University and UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment (United States), Ramón Jáuregui , Minister of the Presidency, MEP, President of the Euroamérica Foundation (Spain), Mogens Lykketoft , Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Parliament and President of the UN General Assembly (Denmark) and Olivier de Schutter , Rapporteur UN Special on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights (Belgium).