"Our protection must not be sold for profit" 470 organisations denounce deregulation campaign
Today, Wednesday, 10th September, President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the European Parliament with her ‘State of the Union’ speech. Nine months on under her leadership, the European Commission is planning an unprecedented wave of drastic cuts to regulations protecting labour, social, and human rights, as well as digital rights, and the environment.
The End FGM European Network joins 470 Civil society, trade unions, and public interest groups delivered a clear message to Commission President von der Leyen, the European Commissioners, and EU Member States in a statement signed by 470 organisations.
The organisations warn that over the next four years, the Commission and EU Member States may dismantle rules that govern companies operating in the EU at a scale that will set progress on environmental protection, social rights, digital rights and climate policies back many years. The speed and scale of the response from civil society organisations across Europe shows that the deregulation wave has raised concerns in big parts of society, who unanimously demand rules to protect people and the environment.
Gender equality cannot advance in a Europe where corporate interests are put before people's rights. Every rollback of protections is a setback for justice, especially for women, girls, and marginalised communities. Weakening legal safeguards in the name of competitiveness risks undoing decades of progress in advancing gender equality and human rights. It is key that we strengthen our intersectional approach and increase intersectoral cooperation to ensure the full upholding of fundamental rights obligations as outlined in key EU-wide legislation.
Instead of deregulation, we call on EU and national lawmakers to protect and promote the rights enshrined in the EU Charter and international human rights law.