BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer welcomed the approval of the political agreement on prohibiting products made with forced labour by Member States. Beyrer acknowledged the significance of this step, stating, "This is an important step in the EU’s efforts to tackle forced labour, but there is still much work to be done to make the Regulation workable and effective."
Beyrer emphasized the stance of European businesses on forced labour, saying, "Forced labour is a serious human rights violation that European business fully condemns." He noted improvements in the agreed text that focus on enhancing implementation processes, improving coordination, and promoting awareness and best practices.
Despite recognizing positive developments, Beyrer expressed concerns regarding the implementation of the rules. He highlighted the complexities involved and the potential increase in costs and administrative burdens for both economic operators and competent authorities. Beyrer stressed the need for a robust framework to support the implementation and enforcement of the Regulation well before it comes into force, stating, "The priority should now be to ensure that the framework to support the implementation and enforcement of the Regulation is in place and fully operational."
The approval of the political agreement marks a significant milestone in the EU's efforts to combat forced labour. However, as highlighted by BusinessEurope, there is still a considerable amount of work ahead to ensure the Regulation is effective and operational.