Business and Human Rights in Europe: CSR-Law-Making in a Postnational World

Abstract

The European Union has passed some of the most progressive legislation regarding Business and Human Rights worldwide in recent years. At the same time, developments at the international level have led many European states to impose obligations on businesses to respect and protect Human Rights in their international operations. This article analyzes the development from voluntary self-regulation of Business and Human Rights, international soft-law standards and ‘responsive regulation’ towards tendencies of imposing direct obligations on companies in Europe. It shows how CSR in Europe today goes beyond moral and ethical concerns and has become a legal issue that businesses have to face.