EU states are struggling to pass supply chain law

The way for the controversial EU supply chain law has been paved after much back and forth. The Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU ensured that a qualified majority voted in favor of the EU directive through concessions to national governments and adjustments to the compromise text. Qualified majority means that at least 15 of the 27 EU countries, representing more than 65% of EU citizens, must vote yes. The federal government abstained due to reservations from FDP ministers Christian Lindner and Marco Buschmann, which was seen as a no – and was overruled. Ultimately, the decisive factor was the voting behavior of the Italian government. After being promised relief from another European law, namely the EU Packaging Regulation, Rome voted in favor of the EU Supply Chain Law. The EU directive now has to be approved by the EU Parliament and formally by a Council of Ministers. Both are considered very likely.