Communication

Investor and business joint statement on Omnibus initiative

02 September 2025

475 organisations are calling on EU policymakers to preserve the core of the EU sustainable finance framework.

Rules on sustainability reporting, transition plans, climate targets and corporate due diligence are a key foundation for achieving the EU’s economic and sustainability goals, and improving their implementation is a priority.

In the context of the Omnibus I simplification initiative, we call attention to the investors, companies, banks and other financial institutions across our economy that support preserving the core elements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) underpinned by the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), and of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). These rules are essential for achieving the EU’s wider sustainability, growth and competitiveness ambitions. They contribute to reorienting investment towards the technologies and sectors that support the goals of the Clean Industrial Deal and can reinforce harmonisation efforts for EU capital markets, as set out in the Savings and Investment Union. The signatories of this statement consider that regulatory simplification can be achieved without compromising on the substance of sustainability rules or their significant benefits for businesses across the EU.

Signatories include:

130 investors (such as Allianz SE, Nordea AM, Union Investment, Federated Hermes, Robeco, Mirova, LBPAM and P&V Verzekeringen),
87 real-economy companies (such as Ingka Group (IKEA), ALDI SOUTH, EDF, Decathlon, Nokia, H&M, ACCIONA, Vattenfall, SEBN SE Group, S Group and Nestlé),
and 92 other organisations (such as Accountancy Europe, the Dutch Federation of Pension Funds, amfori and B Lab).

Hear from our signatories:

Carine de Boissezon, EDF Chief Impact Officer: "The EU, thanks to the Green Deal, is ten years ahead in the green industrial revolution. What is at stake is our health, the competitiveness of our businesses, our well-being and our sovereignty. Where there is room for smart simplification, let's tweak the regulation, but we need to stay the course and be proud of it to assert our leadership, our standards, our vision. If not us, who? If not now, when? When there is a will, there is a way!"

Anke Ehlers, Managing Director for International Sustainability at ALDI SOUTH GROUP: "The ALDI SOUTH Group supports strong and harmonized EU sustainability rules, which is why it is vital that the core of the CSRD and CSDDD is preserved. Sustainability rules are not red tape. They are the foundation for long-term competitiveness and for the transition to a sustainable, thriving economy. Shared standards create trust, give customers and investors’ confidence, and ensure that businesses compete on a level playing field".

Dr. Günther Thallinger, Member of the Board of Management of Allianz SE, Investment Management, Sustainability: "A strong Sustainable Finance framework is essential for global investors. It supports the shift to a sustainable economy and helps deliver the EU Green Deal. We support simplifying the CSRD and CSDDD. At the same time, it’s important to keep the key rules. These ensure companies provide complete and reliable data for investment decisions and transformative actions. Companies must still have a climate transition plan. Companies must take steps in line with the Paris Agreement’s decarbonization goals. We can achieve effective reporting in an efficient manner."

Annika Ramsköld, VP Sustainabilty at Vattenfall: "At Vattenfall, we have chosen a sustainable business model not because someone tells us to do it but because it will make us competitive in the future. Not everyone has realized this yet, but this is all about Europe’s competitiveness. We need stable and predictable political framework that promote transparency and enables companies to identify their risks and opportunities that will make us competitive not only now but also in the future.”

Marie-Aude Thépaut, Chief Executive Officer at CNP Assurances: “As a responsible insurer and investor, CNP Assurances welcomes the European Commission's desire to simplify the regulatory framework while reaffirming the imperative to preserve the ambition of the Green Deal and the European Sustainable Finance Framework.”

Alice K. Steenland, Chief of Strategy, Sustainability and Marketing at Signify: “At Signify, we are committed to ensuring that the transformative power of light contributes positively to the environment around us. That’s why we’ve joined others in urging the EU to preserve the integrity of its sustainable finance framework – a vital structure for driving accountability and accelerating action on climate. One year after launching our Climate Transition Plan, we are making strong progress and remain committed to leading by example."

Dr. Henrik Pontzen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Union Investment: “The Omnibus is necessary and important, but only good if it finds the right balance. Only if we reduce complexity, regulation can become effective. Only if regulation keeps its focus on the need for transformation, we can form a sustainable future.”

Steen Møller, Chief Financial Officer, TDC NET: “At TDC NET, we see hesitations around the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) as a delay we simply can’t afford. Earth doesn't have time to spare, and neither do we. Agreed, we should make CSRD reporting simpler, but if you don't track your journey, you don't know where you're going, very simple!”

Linda Sundberg, Head of Sustainable Investing at the Church of Sweden: "A bold EU target sends a strong message that Europe is committed to a just and science-based transition — one that reflects our shared responsibility for creation and for future generations."

Stefan Dierks, Director Sustainability Strategy at Melitta Group Management GmbH & Co. KG: "The protection of climate, biodiversity and human rights is a precondition of successful business in global value chains. Therefore, an EU-wide harmonized and easy to apply regulation fosters the competitiveness of European economics in a global landscape with increasingly strict legal requirements.”

The statement asks for targeted simplification that safeguards the following elements:

Double materiality reporting across all Environmental, Social and Governance topics and ensuring interoperability with international standards and frameworks including GRI, ISSB and TNFD.
A meaningful CSRD scope covering companies with 500+ employees.
Flexibility in value chain information exchange beyond the value chain cap that would limit information to a VSME standard, which is not adapted and was designed for micro-companies and SMEs.
A requirement to adopt and implement credible climate transition plans, and
Risk-based due diligence under the CSDDD.

The initiative was coordinated by the European Sustainable Investment Forum (Eurosif), the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), the Corporate Leaders Group Europe (CLG Europe), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and E3G.

Please note that the deadline for signing this statement was Friday 29th August. However, should your organisation be interested in appearing as a signatory, you can reach out bilaterally (pierre.garrault@eurosif.org and anne.risse@eurosif.org).

Access the statement here.

Access the press release here. Please note that it was published on 1 July 2025. Since then, the number of signatories has further increased.