President **Emmanuel Macron** expressed, on Monday, May 19, his desire for the outright **abolition** of the European Directive on the duty of vigilance, aligning himself with the recent stance of the new German Chancellor, **Friedrich Merz**.
“We totally agree with Chancellor Merz and other colleagues to go much faster,” he asserted regarding simplification. “The CS3D [directive on the duty of vigilance] and some other regulations should not be simply postponed for one year, but entirely dismissed,” he emphasized during a speech at the **Choose France** summit.
Challenges Facing European Businesses
Macron pointed out that Europe has introduced **numerous constraints** and regulations across various sectors while simultaneously opening its markets to international competitors, particularly from **China**, who are adhering to **lower standards**. As a result, many European companies are suffering due to the **aggressive policies** established by the **Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)** introduced by **Joe Biden**.
Environment and Human Rights Regulations
The **European Commission** has begun to respond by postponing the directive from 2027 to 2028. However, Macron urged that “everything now depends on our speed and scale of reaction,” emphasizing the need to act decisively. “We must go fast and strong if we want to get back into the race,” he asserted.
During his address, Chancellor Merz also called for the **abolition** of the directive that imposes stringent rules regarding **environmental** and **human rights standards** across the entire production chain. He argued that merely postponing the directive is “not a sustainable solution. Ultimately, the only solution is to repeal it,” he confirmed.
Both leaders’ sentiments resonate with the positions of business leaders in their respective countries, who are advocating for the **removal** of these regulations rather than just a delay. Conversely, **NGOs** and environmental organizations are voicing their concerns about the potential backtracking on vital environmental protections enacted during the previous commission’s tenure.