Heil confirms German abstention on EU supply chain law
Published: Tuesday, Feb 6th 2024, 17:10
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Germany will not agree to the planned EU supply chain law. This was announced by Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) in Berlin on Tuesday and blamed the FDP for this. He had proposed compromises and solutions right up to the end, but the Free Democrats were not prepared to go along with this solution, criticized Heil and accused the coalition partner of an "ideologically motivated blockade".
The European supply chain law is intended to hold large companies accountable if they profit from child or forced labor outside the EU, for example. However, a German abstention could cause the entire set of rules to fail, as the majority required for this is in doubt in Brussels.
In contrast to the SPD and the Greens, Finance Minister Christian Linder and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (both FDP) had already signaled their opposition for some time because they feared disadvantages for the German economy. Because of this stance, the Free Democrats were criticized within the traffic light coalition - nevertheless, the federal government will now have to abstain. "I think that's wrong," emphasized Heil. A German abstention would meet with a lack of understanding from its European partners.
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