EU supply chain law could still come

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FDP Justice Minister Marco Buschmann

Photo: M. Popow / Metodi Popow / IMAGO

After the vote in Brussels on the EU supply chain law was canceled two weeks ago, according to SPIEGEL information, a surprise vote by the member states is now expected to take place on Wednesday.

Justice Minister Marco Buschmann and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (both FDP) had announced that they would not agree to the supply chain law, which would have led to an abstention in Brussels.

Then other countries dropped out - such as Bulgaria, Italy and Cyprus.

A majority was no longer safe.

Buschmann had formulated his objections in a letter.

The SPD and the Greens are in favor of approval.

The aim of the EU supply chain law is that no goods should be sold in the EU that were produced using child labor or that cause environmental damage during their production.

(You can read the reasons for the rejection of the FDP here.)

It is unclear whether there is now a majority among the member states.

The federal government is sticking to its abstention, as we can hear.

Italy, in particular, is likely to be decisive, as its “no” was not formulated as clearly as by the FDP.

According to media reports, there is even a pact between Lindner and the Italian finance minister of the right-wing populist Lega party, Giancarlo Giorgetti.

Italy should not agree to the supply chain law and Germany should, in return, agree to the EU packaging directive, which is also about to conclude negotiations.

So far there is no public confirmation of this.

The vote in the Commission of Permanent Representatives is scheduled to take place at midday.

If it is canceled again at short notice, a vote could still be held on Friday.

The Greens hope that the FDP will be changed or that the Chancellor will take action.

"I expect Chancellor Scholz to use his directive authority for human rights and for Germany as a reliable negotiating partner," EU Green Party politician Anna Cavazzini told SPIEGEL.