This week, tractors blocked highways across France, conducting “the siege of Paris,” partly in protest of unfair environmental standards driven by the EU Green Deal. Similar protests were seen across the continent as European mettle to stay the course in the Green Deal is being tested.

Paradoxically, also this week, the EU parliament finalized the text for the far-reaching Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which will require thousands of EU and non-EU companies to identify, prevent, and mitigate any negative human rights and environmental impacts in their operations and value chains.

The rules, which will be phased in beginning in 2026 for EU companies and 2029 for non-EU ones, will not include financial institutions for now. The EU parliament and Council will ratify this final text between February 9th and 13th.

The dichotomy of politicians pressing on with an ultra-progressive sustainability agenda while discontent grows among stakeholders and voters portends uncertainty as the new policies start to bite.

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It is not just from farmers. Businesses are pushing back on the EU’s agenda as well. One large US multinational’s anecdote of the cost of complying with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive revealed that they expect to spend $50-60 million for compliance over the next 3-5 years, with an additional recurring $6 million for auditing and any additional sector-specific guidance.

Concern over compliance costs has driven businesses to question whether the Green Deal weakens EU companies’ competitiveness. A claim EU’s climate chief Wopke Hoekstra, calls a “false narrative,” claiming that Europe will continue to have a “world-class, second to none, business environment.” He was speaking ahead of an expected February 6th announcement of a new EU goal of reducing emissions 90% by 2040, which could further enrage farmers and businesses.

The main impact of the backlash so far has been a shift in spending from green innovations to defense spending. A common innovation fund was changed to ensure it could only invest in arms, and the European Investment Fund is under pressure to fund more defense projects.

It is feared these farmer protests, which have already seen the EU back down on one of their agricultural biodiversity policies, could embolden right-wing politicians ahead of the June EU elections.

This Smart Read article is contributed by Tim Mohin, Global Sustainability Leader, BCG. Every week ESG News delivers smart commentary from ESG practitioners and experts to unpack issues of the week. Submit your ESG Smart Read to [email protected]