"Introductory Remarks by Didier Reynders Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs on the occasion of the Business & Human Rights Peer Learning Meeting", 23 May 2019

...The principles [UNGPs] embody a true paradigm shift. They are the recognition that the realization and respect of fundamental rights in a globalized world is a shared responsibility across borders, belonging to all actors, not only states...

Now it is about how to make it a reality in the most efficient way...

It is important in this area to have a comprehensive approach across all the instruments at our disposal...

The debate has started on a future law on due diligence. I am convinced that this will come a reality sooner than later, if we can ensure that we approach this with a European dimension and can ensure a level-playing field for all businesses.

At European level, we need to put the principles at the heart of trade policy...

We also need to keep working at the global level, in Geneva. The discussion there is now centered on the proposal for a so-called “binding treaty”. We have strong issues with this text as it currently stands... Yet I am convinced that we should not avoid, and that we should rather embrace, the debate...