Deadline: 2 September 2009 The 'Protect, Respect, Remedy' framework put forward in 2008 by Professor John Ruggie, UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights, has given new momentum and direction to the business and human rights agenda. The European Commission now wishes to launch a study to clarify the existing legal framework for human rights and environmental issues applicable to European companies operating outside the EU, with a view to providing a basis for possible measures to further operationalise the Ruggie framework.