2023-03-292022/23:NU12 · p.18NUBusiness & energy
Sustainable business
The EU proposal on corporate due diligence for human rights and environmental responsibility
What's at stake: The outcome affects how quickly and strictly companies in supply chains are compelled to counter child labour, environmental harm and other abuses, and whether state export credits should be conditioned on environmental and human-rights criteria.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether Sweden and the EU should legislate that companies must exercise due diligence for human rights and the environment throughout the supply chain, with requirements for transparency and accountability, or whether it is enough to await the ongoing EU directive process.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions, noting that the European Commission has already presented a proposed directive on due diligence, which among other things requires climate-adaptation plans in line with the Paris Agreement and regulates companies' responsibility for adverse effects on human rights and the environment in their own operations, subsidiaries and value chain. The committee notes that members hold differing views on how extensive the framework should be and that work on the directive is still ongoing at EU level.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 25 (V, MP)
The Left Party and the Green Party want both the EU and Sweden to legislate that companies must respect human rights and the environment throughout the supply chain, so that, for example, child labour and the destruction of ecosystems are stopped. The parties also want clear requirements for transparency and accountability mechanisms, for instance by evaluating every company receiving state export credits against environmental and human-rights criteria, and argue that strong sustainability work strengthens Swedish companies' competitiveness and the Sweden brand.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 25 by V, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/14 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/21/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 59/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Abstain 1/0/63/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| SDUlf Lindholm (SD, Västernorrlands län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2022/23:547 by Markus Wiechel and Alexander Christiansson (both SD), 2022/23:849 by Kerstin Lundgren et al. (C) amendment 51, 2022/23:907 by Stina Larsson et al. (C) amendment 7, 2022/23:908 by Stina Larsson et al. (C) amendment 30, 2022/23:945 by Tobias Andersson et al. (SD) amendment 27, 2022/23:1673 by Annie Lööf et al. (C) amendment 150, 2022/23:1879 by Kerstin Lundgren et al. (C) amendment 5, 2022/23:1882 by Malin Björk et al. (C) amendment 38, 2022/23:2170 by Elin Söderberg et al. (MP) amendment 7 and 2022/23:2261 by Janine Alm Ericson et al. (MP) amendment 20.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:547 av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD), 2022/23:849 av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C) yrkande 51, 2022/23:907 av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C) yrkande 7, 2022/23:908 av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C) yrkande 30, 2022/23:945 av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD) yrkande 27, 2022/23:1673 av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C) yrkande 150, 2022/23:1879 av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C) yrkande 5, 2022/23:1882 av Malin Björk m.fl. (C) yrkande 38, 2022/23:2170 av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP) yrkande 7 och 2022/23:2261 av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP) yrkande 20.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected 85 proposals in motions submitted during the ordinary motion period 2022. The proposals concern international trade, the EU's internal market, trade and investment promotion, and sustainable business. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to the policies pursued, ongoing work, and various measures. The proposals deal with, among other things, overarching questions about free trade and protectionism, that is to say, protection of domestic production by means of, for example, tariffs. The proposals also concern requirements in trade agreements, reform of the World Trade Organization, trade relations with certain countries, questions about the free movement of certain goods, trade promotion, scrutiny of foreign direct investments, and sustainable business.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants EU trade agreements to be revised to strengthen developing countries' opportunities for fair trade and sustainable development. (V, MP) — Reservation 25
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The programme establishes that social, democratic and ecological considerations shall take precedence over capital interests, and that international cooperation shall be based on human rights, not capital's interest in deregulation.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The programme establishes that social, democratic and ecological considerations shall take precedence over capital interests, and that international cooperation shall be based on human rights, not capital's interest in deregulation. Binding legislation on companies' responsibility throughout the entire supply chain, with transparency and accountability, is precisely such regulation, and the plan is explicitly open to binding minimum levels in this kind of area. The election manifesto also requires that policy place demands on industry.
Original (Swedish)
Programmet slår fast att sociala, demokratiska och ekologiska hänsyn ska gå före kapitalintressen och att internationell samverkan ska grundas på mänskliga rättigheter, inte kapitalets intresse av avreglering. Bindande lagstiftning om företagens ansvar genom hela leverantörskedjan, med transparens och ansvarsutkrävande, är just en sådan reglering, och planen är uttalat öppen för bindande miniminivåer på detta slags områden. Valmanifestet kräver dessutom att politiken ställer krav på industrin.
- rights before capital interestsdecisive»ekologiska hänsyn ska gå före kapitalintressen.« (party programme ↗)“ecological considerations shall take precedence over capital interests.”
- cooperation based on rights»Internationell samverkan ska grundas på respekt för mänskliga« (party programme ↗)“International cooperation shall be based on respect for human”
- political demands on industry»Politiken kan och måste ställa krav på att industrin ställer om« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Policy can and must place demands on industry to change”
- binding minimum levels»kan Vänsterpartiet till exempel vara positivt till bindande miniminivåer« (party programme ↗)“can the Left Party for example be positive to binding minimum levels”
The plan requires that the EU concludes trade agreements where values regarding social dialogue, human rights and environment are guiding, and the programme wants to see more systematic monitoring of transnational corporations and a global agreement on corporate responsibility.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the EU concludes trade agreements where values regarding social dialogue, human rights and environment are guiding, and the programme wants to see more systematic monitoring of transnational corporations and a global agreement on corporate responsibility. This supports the counter-proposal's requirement for legislation on due diligence throughout the supply chain with transparency and accountability. Export credit criteria are not mentioned, but the principle of corporate responsibility for environment and rights is the plan's own.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att EU sluter handelsavtal där värderingar om social dialog, mänskliga rättigheter och miljö är vägledande, och programmet vill se en mer systematiserad bevakning av de transnationella företagen och en global överenskommelse om företagens ansvar. Det bär motförslagets krav på lagstiftning om aktsamhet genom hela leverantörskedjan med transparens och ansvarsutkrävande. Exportkreditkriterier nämns inte, men principen om företagens ansvar för miljö och rättigheter är planens egen.
- rights guide trade agreementsdecisive»EU behöver sluta fler handelsavtal där också våra värderingar om social dialog, mänskliga rättigheter och miljö är vägledande.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The EU needs to conclude more trade agreements where also our values regarding social dialogue, human rights and environment are guiding.”
- monitoring of transnational corporations»En mer systematiserad bevakning av de transnationella företagen och en« (party programme ↗)“More systematic monitoring of transnational corporations and a”
- global agreement on work and capital»För att nå en långsiktigt hållbar utveckling vill vi verka för en global överenskommelse« (party programme ↗)“To achieve long-term sustainable development, we want to work towards a global agreement”
- trade consistent with environmental agreements»De internationella handelsavtalen måste stämma överens med de internationella« (party programme ↗)“The international trade agreements must be consistent with the international”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme requires that Sweden set requirements that imported goods be manufactured with regard to environment, human rights and working conditions, and that strict environmental and social requirements be introduced in trade policy.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that Sweden set requirements that imported goods be manufactured with regard to environment, human rights and working conditions, and that strict environmental and social requirements be introduced in trade policy. All actors in the economy have according to the plan a responsibility to take ethical, social and ecological considerations, and the election manifesto wants Sweden to work for ecocide legislation. Legislation on responsibility throughout the supply chain is therefore supported.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att Sverige ställer krav på att importerade varor är tillverkade med hänsyn till miljö, mänskliga rättigheter och arbetsförhållanden, och att hårda miljökrav och sociala krav införs i handelspolitiken. Alla aktörer i ekonomin har enligt planen ett ansvar att ta etiska, sociala och ekologiska hänsyn, och valmanifestet vill att Sverige verkar för en ekocidlagstiftning. Lagstiftning om ansvar genom hela leverantörskedjan stöds därför.
- requirements on imported goodsdecisive»Sverige ska ställa krav på att importerade varor är« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall set requirements that imported goods are”
- strict environmental and social requirements»införa hårda miljökrav och sociala krav i handelspolitiken som kan bidra till förbättringar långt« (party programme ↗)“introduce strict environmental and social requirements in trade policy that can contribute to improvements far”
- work for ecocide legislation»att Sverige verkar för en ekocidlagstiftning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that Sweden works for ecocide legislation.”
- companies' ethical responsibility»Alla aktörer i ekonomin har ett ansvar att ta etiska,« (party programme ↗)“All actors in the economy have a responsibility to take ethical,”
The election manifesto demands stricter requirements on working conditions, environment, and climate in trade agreements, and the party programme establishes that ethical and environmental perspectives must be considered in free trade.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto demands stricter requirements on working conditions, environment, and climate in trade agreements, and the party programme establishes that ethical and environmental perspectives must be considered in free trade. Requirements for companies to respect human rights and environment through the supply chain follow from this line. The plan reasons similarly when it prefers Swedish extraction to import from countries with worse working conditions and greater climate footprint.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat ställs i handelsavtal, och partiprogrammet slår fast att hänsyn måste tas till etiska och miljömässiga perspektiv i den fria handeln. Krav på att företag respekterar mänskliga rättigheter och miljö genom leverantörskedjan följer av den linjen. Planen resonerar likadant när den hellre ser svensk utvinning än import från länder med sämre arbetsvillkor och större klimatavtryck.
- requirements in trade agreementsdecisive»Ställ hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat i handelsavtal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Impose stricter requirements on working conditions, environment, and climate in trade agreements.”
- ethics in market economy»Hänsyn måste tas till etiska och miljömässiga perspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Ethical and environmental perspectives must be considered.”
- responsibility in supply chain»Det är bättre att Sverige tar ansvar och utvinner mer mineral och metaller istället för att fortsätta importera dem från länder med större klimatavtryck och sämre arbetsvillkor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is better for Sweden to take responsibility and extract more minerals and metals instead of continuing to import them from countries with greater climate footprint and worse working conditions.”
- trade policy for climate»Vi ska använda handelspolitiken för att kapa fossila subventioner runtom i världen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall use trade policy to cut fossil subsidies around the world”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's foreign policy is explicitly value-driven: trade policy shall benefit from free trade without naivety, Sweden shall not export weapons to dictatorships and state-owned enterprises shall have criteria for business relations with non-democratic regimes.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's foreign policy is explicitly value-driven: trade policy shall benefit from free trade without naivety, Sweden shall not export weapons to dictatorships and state-owned enterprises shall have criteria for business relations with non-democratic regimes. Legal requirements that companies respect human rights and environment throughout the supply chain, with transparency and accountability, follow from that line. The plan says nothing about supply chains specifically, so support is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planens utrikespolitik är uttalat värderingsstyrd: handelspolitiken ska dra nytta av frihandelns fördelar utan naivitet, Sverige ska inte exportera vapen till diktaturer och statligt ägda företag ska ha kriterier för affärsrelationer med odemokratiska regimer. Lagkrav på att företag respekterar mänskliga rättigheter och miljö i hela leverantörskedjan, med transparens och ansvarsutkrävande, följer av den linjen. Planen anger inget om leverantörskedjor specifikt, varför stödet är härlett.
- trade without naivetydecisive»Handels- och främjandepolitiken ska stärka Sverige som aktör för en friare värld och dra nytta av frihandelns fördelar utan den naivitet som alltför länge uppvisats för kinesisk och rysk maktpolitik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Trade and promotion policy shall strengthen Sweden as an actor for a freer world and benefit from the advantages of free trade without the naivety that has too long been shown towards Chinese and Russian power politics.”
- values guide trade»Sverige ska inte exportera vapen till diktaturer.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall not export weapons to dictatorships.”
- value-driven foreign policy»Vi kallar det för vad det är: en ny värderingsstyrd utrikespolitik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We call it what it is: a new value-driven foreign policy.”
- climate in trade policy»Klimataspekterna ska integreras i EU:s handelspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“Climate aspects shall be integrated into EU's trade policy.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan establishes that multinational companies have responsibility for their fellow humans' situation and that global ethical codes for business need to be strengthened, and that business presupposes a market economy guided by social and environmental consideration.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that multinational companies have responsibility for their fellow humans' situation and that global ethical codes for business need to be strengthened, and that business presupposes a market economy guided by social and environmental consideration. Legislation on responsibility for human rights and the environment in supply chains follows from this. The demand that new rules be tested from a small business perspective is a qualifying countermeasure.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att multinationella företag har ett ansvar för sina medmänniskors situation och att de globala etiska koderna för näringslivet behöver förstärkas, samt att näringslivet förutsätter en marknadsekonomi styrd av socialt och miljömässigt hänsynstagande. Lagstiftning om ansvar för mänskliga rättigheter och miljö i leverantörskedjan följer av detta. Kravet att nya regler prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv är en kvalificerande motvikt.
- companies' responsibility for rightsdecisive»Alla enskilda människor och globala aktörer, som internationella organisationer och multinationella företag« (party programme ↗)“All individual people and global actors, such as international organizations and multinational companies”
- strengthened ethical codes»förstärka de globala etiska koderna« (party programme ↗)“strengthen the global ethical codes”
- socially responsible market economy»en marknadsekonomi baserad på etiska principer och styrd av socialt och miljömässigt hänsynstagande« (party programme ↗)“a market economy based on ethical principles and guided by social and environmental consideration”
- small business perspective on rules»Tillkommande lagar bör prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Incoming laws should be tested from a small business perspective.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants to prevent over-implementation and as a main rule implement EU regulations at minimum level, and to remove a third of companies' regulatory red tape.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to prevent over-implementation and as a main rule implement EU regulations at minimum level, and to remove a third of companies' regulatory red tape. A Swedish regulation on due diligence throughout the entire supply chain in addition to the ongoing EU work is precisely such a burden. The plan stands firm on democracy and human rights as a foreign policy priority, but not as national business regulation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill motverka överimplementering och som huvudregel genomföra EU-regler på miniminivå, samt ta bort en tredjedel av företagens regelkrångel. Ett svenskt regelverk om aktsamhet genom hela leverantörskedjan utöver det pågående EU-arbetet är just en sådan pålaga. Planen står fast vid demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter som utrikespolitisk prioritering, men inte som nationell företagsreglering.
- EU rules at minimum leveldecisive»motverka överimplementering i Sverige av EU-beslut« (2022 manifesto ↗)“prevent over-implementation in Sweden of EU decisions”
- reduced regulatory red tape»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove a third of companies' administrative costs and a third of regulatory red tape”
- limited state role in the economy»Statens roll i ekonomin är att värna dess grundläggande« (party programme ↗)“The state's role in the economy is to protect its basic”
- human rights in foreign policy»Prioritera insatser som stödjer arbetet för demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prioritize efforts that support work for democracy and human rights”
The plan wishes to remove rules whose costs to companies do not correspond to benefits, stop symbolic politics damaging business and warns that Swedish requirements stricter than the rest of the world eliminate Swedish industries.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wishes to remove rules whose costs to companies do not correspond to benefits, stop symbolic politics damaging business and warns that Swedish requirements stricter than the rest of the world eliminate Swedish industries. Statutory due diligence duty through the entire supply chain in both the EU and Sweden is precisely such an increase in burden, and the plan opposes further power transfers to the EU. The demand is therefore rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill ta bort regler vars kostnader för företagen inte motsvarar nyttan, stoppa symbolpolitik som drabbar näringslivet och varnar för att svenska krav strängare än omvärldens slår ut svenska näringar. Lagstadgad aktsamhetsplikt genom hela leverantörskedjan i både EU och Sverige är just en sådan bördeökning, och planen motsätter sig ytterligare maktöverföring till EU. Kravet avvisas därför.
- no expensive regulatory requirementsdecisive»För att få fler och växande företag är det viktigt att ta bort onödiga regler där kostnaderna för företagen inte motsvarar nyttan för samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To get more and growing businesses, it is important to remove unnecessary rules where the costs to businesses do not correspond to the benefit to society.”
- no Swedish special requirements»Strängare miljö- och utsläppskrav i Sverige jämfört med i omvärlden riskerar ofta att slå ut svenska näringar och få globalt kontraproduktiva resultat när det kommer till de mål kraven syftar till att uppnå.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stricter environmental and emissions requirements in Sweden compared to in the rest of the world often risk eliminating Swedish industries and producing globally counterproductive results when it comes to the goals the requirements aim to achieve.”
- stop symbolic politics»Stoppa symbolpolitik som går ut över möjligheten att bedriva industri och näring« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop symbolic politics that undermines the ability to conduct industry and enterprise”
- stop power transfer to EU»Stoppa maktöverföringar och EU-skatter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop power transfers and EU taxes”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:NU12)
- Committee report full text (HA01NU12)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1014 — Ett konkurrenskraftigt svenskt väginfrastruktursystem av Thomas Morell m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1061 — Upphävande av förbudet mot handel med sälprodukter av Sanne Lennström och Gustaf Lantz (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1090 — Handel med sälprodukter av Alexandra Anstrell (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1121 — Fler företag, fler jobb och stärkt konkurrenskraft i hela landet av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1206 — Export av snus i Europeiska unionen av Jesper Skalberg Karlsson (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1269 — Utökade handelsförbindelser och utbyte med Taiwan av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1497 — Skyddsjakt på säl och skarv av Lili André (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1673 — Jämställdhet för hållbar utveckling av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1758 — Afrikas horn av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1802 — Ökat handelsutbyte med Kosovo av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1879 — En fokuserad utvecklingsagenda bortom 2030 av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1882 — En starkare liberal demokrati av Malin Björk m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1952 — Strategi för ökad produktion och export av svensk mat av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2022/23:2064 — Handel och exportfrämjande av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2144 — Satsningar på Stockholms skärgård av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:2170 — För en stark grön näringslivsutveckling av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:2190 — Ledarskap för klimat och grön omställning av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:2261 — En grön feministisk utvecklings- och biståndspolitik av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:547 — Utreda omfattningen av produkter som framkommit genom slavarbete av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2022/23:849 — Internationellt samarbete i en ny tid av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C)
Source: The Swedish Parliament