Transposing the CSDDD – Navigating Legal Uncertainties amidst the Omnibus proposal and Implementation Challenges
Policy Brief - Implementing the CSDDD: Lessons Learnt from the Comparative Experiences
Policy Brief - Overcoming Transposition Challenges of the CSDDD, Some Best Practices
On 28 May 2025, the NOVA Centre on Business, Human Rights and the Environment, the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies and the HIVA Research Institute for Work and Society hosted a workshop titled "The Transposition of the CSDDD - Navigating Legal Uncertainties amidst the Omnibus proposal and Implementation Challenges" in Lisbon, Portugal. The event brought together 20 policymakers from 9 European countries and over 30 experts from 15 countries across 5 continents representing legal practice, civil society, academia, national human rights institutions, and international organizations such as the UN, the Council of Europe, and the OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct.
The workshop served as a platform for policymakers to clarify recent developments, consider future regulatory scenarios, and identify immediate actions for effective CSDDD transposition.
Key themes included lessons learned from the comparative experiences of countries that have already adopted legislative frameworks on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD). Participants explored critical elements that national transposition laws must include to ensure effectiveness and considered strategies to support companies in fulfilling their HREDD obligations.
The workshop also offered practical guidance for policymakers, including immediate steps to align national legislation with international standards and with the CSDDD, and emphasized the importance of engaging with businesses, civil society, and other stakeholders.
In the following weeks, we will publish three briefs summarising key discussions and takeaways from each of the panels of the workshop. The first brief focuses on lessons learnt from the comparative experiences of previous HREDD regulation for implementing the CSDDD. The second brief considers best practices to overcome transposition challenges of the CSDDD. The third brief highlights developments and initiatives in the area of accompanying measures for HREDD regulation.
