Would achieving ESG (Environment Social Governance) targets require increased collaboration between industries and potential adjustments to the EU competition law.

Abstract

The key purpose of this dissertation is to analyse the rules of EU competition laws and their compatibility with the sustainability goals within the EU law framework. The dissertation will look at the EU Green Deal followed by the EU Sustainability Corporate Governance Rules. It will be argued that the current EU law needs to be revised to make it compatible with the aims of the European Green Deal. EU member states must comply with EU law as their primary law and the Commission is under an obligation by way of Article 11TFEU to comply with environmental issues in all its policies. If the EU competition law continues if competition law continues to interfere with urgent enterprises to tackle climate change, the Commission must clarify the law, or amend it within the scope of the treaties for instance by way of a block exception Therefore, the key objective of the thesis is to analyse whether and to what extent can the sustainability goals be reconciled with the competition law rules. This is because the achievement of sustainability goals requires collaboration between corporations and any collaboration may trigger the application of anti-competition laws. Therefore, the thesis will aim to answer the question of whether the current framework of the EU competition laws is consistent with the sustainability goals. This dissertation will argue that unless the Commission is prepared to make radical changes to competition law to make it suitable for the development of sustainable initiatives, the goals of the Commission will not be met, and this will affect not just the EU but also the entire world in respect of climate change.