The EU Omnibus Package | Why Sustainability Still Matters

In this episode, TDi's CEO Assheton Stewart Carter talks to international negotiator Peter Handley and TDi's Jeannette Greven about the omnibus package of regulatory amendments recently published by the EU Commission. The talking points include:

• Why the changes proposed in the omnibus package are being made
• What this means for businesses of different sizes and what companies both in scope and out of scope should do next to identify and manage supply chain risk
• Whether the omnibus package marks the end of the Brussels Effect and what it means for the European Green Deal as a whole
• What this means in the context of EU/US relations and for the EU regulatory landscape as a whole
• Why sustainability should still be a priority for businesses when it comes to ensuring long-term resilience

Peter Handley is a policy shaper and international negotiator with experience in energy and climate, circular economy and international trade negotiations. Peter worked for the European Commission for more than 20 years, where he was head of the unit for energy intensive industries and raw materials. Peter is also Special Advisor to the Global Council for Responsible Transition Minerals – a Paris Peace Forum initiative. Peter recently founded PHASE32, an independent consultancy working on sustainability and resilience. 

Jeannette Greven is a Senior Sustainability Consultant at TDi, with a background in international development and qualitative research in conflict-affected areas. Jeannette works on projects that range from developing responsible sourcing strategies, to engagement with artisanal mining communities. 

Chapters

• 2:53 Could you give us a little bit of an explanation or a description of what you were working on for the last 20 years of relevance to this topic today?
• 4:30 Jeannette, I wonder if you could give us a little bit of an explainer on the Omnibus package and the regulations that preceded it or are still there but are affected by it affected
• 5:57 Is this what the EU is thinking? is it really pulling back from its sustainability agenda in favour of economic growth or is it fair to say that this is more a refinement and kind of a settling of a sensible middle ground?
• 7:36 So if it's not a watering down of the environmental sustainability expectations, why would it need to change?
• 10:30 What do you think the effect of this new package will bring to businesses generally? Will it enable them to continue to be competitive globally?
• 12:02 What should companies that are still in scope of CSR, CSDDDD do next to make sure they're ready for the new deadlines?
• 13:01 Do you have the same understanding and optimism that Peter has that the smaller companies who are part of these international supply chains won't be affected?
• 14:48 Do you think that this Omnibus package signals the end of that role for Brussels or does in fact in some way leave open an opportunity for it to strengthen that role?
• 17:03 Is this just the beginning and what does this mean for the European Green Deal as a whole?
• 20:44 What do you think would be the EU's response to that?
• 21:48 Have you got any reflections on the response that Peter has provided?
• 23:38 Should the EU be responding so quickly and robustly or should the EU be taking a longer term view and plowing its own forest ?
• 25:04 What broad advice do you give your clients that TDi Sustainability is still a priority?
• 27:06 What did we learn about the implementation of regulations through that exercise?
• 27:43 What are some of the benefits of voluntary compliance and reporting?
• 28:58 If you were to cast your eyes, minds ahead three years, where do you see the EU, Peter, on regulation?
• 31:00 Is this the right move and where do you see, in three years time, companies being on sustainability and ESG?