Holding European businesses responsible – what role for the EU and member states to govern business conduct in third countries?

STRADE is an EU-funded research project focusing on the development of dialogue-based, innovative policy recommendations for a European strategy on future raw materials supplies. In a series of policy briefs and reports, the project will offer critical analysis and recommendations on EU raw materials policy.

This policy brief addresses the role of the EU and its member states in ensuring that businesses domiciled in their jurisdiction act responsibly in third countries, where regulation may be weak or poorly enforced and access to justice is hampered. It looks at selected instruments which apply to businesses from all sectors and analyses their potential effect on companies within or with links to the mining industry. The brief concludes with recommendations for the EU and member states.