Simplification or Disengagement? What reflections can we make regarding the European Parliament's favourable vote on the "Stop-the-clock" directive, which concerns part of the package Omnibus introduced by the European Commission in February 2025?
Some delays were already imaginable:
Two-year postponement of reporting obligations (CSRD) for large companies, which will come into force in 2025, and for listed small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Postponement of one year for the application of the CSDD, which moves from July 26, 2027 to July 26, 2028.
But are we really turning back the hands of the clock on transparency in sustainable investments?
The answer is NO!
In recent years, European directives have promoted a growing awareness of the fact that climate change represents a financial risk and that investment sustainability begins with ethical, inclusive and respectful governance choices from both a social and environmental point of view.
There Disclosure on Governance, on the Environmental and Social impacts of corporate activities and the commitment to progressively more ambitious ESG KPIs will continue to be strategic tools of competitiveness for the big players and, consequently, for the entire value chain, the great protagonist of the near future.
Is everything okay then?
Unfortunately, this cannot be said either. Regulatory complexity and international imbalances increase the responsibility for all aware operators who will have to monitor and commit themselves against the potential risk of greenwashing, promote skills and invest in evaluation tools that, although voluntary, are systematic and comparable.
