Economists Warn Against a Regulatory Setback

On May 19 2025, ninety European economists—including fourteen Italians—signed a joint statement opposing the European Commission’s Omnibus I package. They argue that, if adopted in its current form, the measure would mark a significant setback, potentially undermining Europe’s leadership in sustainability and human rights. The economists contend that attempts to weaken the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD - Dir. UE 2024/1760) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD - Dir. UE 2022/2464), both included in the Omnibus I package, are not only politically short-sighted but also economically unfounded. They call on the European Commission, the Council, and the Parliament to ensure the timely and ambitious implementation of the CSDDD and other regulatory pillars of the European Green Deal.

“As economists, we disagree with a concept of competition that accepts the externalization of social and environmental costs at the expense of nature, the climate, workers, and other affected parties along global supply chains,” the joint declaration reads. “Economically, legally, and ethically, it is unacceptable for the general public and fu...