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In recent years the European Union has introduced a range of regulatory initiatives which, in different ways, seek to address the impacts that businesses have on the enjoyment of human rights. These include initiatives on Corporate Sustainability Reporting, Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence, and Sustainable Finance, as well as trade rules and import/export restrictions. Each measure aims to ensure that businesses, financial institutions, and the economic system as such develop responsibly and contribute to sustainable development. Central to advancing both these aims is fostering respect for human rights by business and financial institutions. The measures, however, vary in the degree to which they align with human rights or business and human rights standards. Further, the measures approach their shared objective from slightly different angles, each potentially forming a “piece of the puzzle””. This briefing provides an overview of the various EU regulatory initiatives of relevance to business and human rights. Each section briefly: summarises the measure; notes the stage the measure is at in the legislative process; describes how the measure relates to business and human rights; and finally, considers
what piece the measure contributes to the broader puzzle. Each section is designed to be a standalone summary of each particular measure as it relates to business and human rights, and will be updated periodically to capture developments as the various legislative processes proceed.