Sustainability, Ethics, ESG and Diligence: The Implementation of European Directives

forthcoming

The project promotes the teaching of the EU regulatory framework among university students and professionals by establishing an innovative course on sustainable development and corporate due diligence, centered on ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) principles. The course will focus on new EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) 1760/2024, highlighting how the combination of this directive with Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) 2022/2464 and European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) can enable the effective implementation of due diligence in value chain of EU and non-EU business.Taking into account recent EU initiatives to reduce the reporting burden on business and reconsider both directives as a part of the Competitiveness Compass, we will focus on explaining to the students the evolution of the ESG norms and the reasons for adopting the hard law on due diligence and reporting at the EU level.In this course the perspective of investors, business and the states will be considered to demonstrate that the ESG norms are intended to ensure the fairer competition and prevent the race to the bottom. Hosted by Mercatorum University, the course targets students lacking EU law options, but also unionists, managers, professionals.The 150-hour program uses an interdisciplinary approach integrating European labor and commercial law, economics and social sciences, taught in Italian and English with contributions from EU experts.Teaching blends lectures, workshops, case studies, and ESG compliance simulations. Around 150 participants will attend in person and 300 online.Building on the success of Jean Monnet Module on gender discrimination, which attracted over 1,800 students, the project expects strong interest.Dissemination strategy includes public events, webinars, open-access book, website, publications.In line with Jean Monnet's objectives it underlines Union's commitment to sustainability and responsible market governance.