Castan Centre for Human Rights Law

Multinational Corporations and Human Rights

Regional Law Norms

The Council of the European Union Code of Conduct on Arms Exports

The European Code of Conduct on Arms Exports was adopted by the Council of Ministers in June 1998 under the UK Presidency. The Code aims to set "high common standards for the management of and restraint in arms exports from the EU", and is a politically binding agreement under which Member States agree to abide by certain criteria when granting arms export licenses.

http://www.fas.org/asmp/campaigns/code/eucodetext.htm

European Parliament’s Resolution for a Model Code of Conduct for European Enterprises Operating in Developing Countries

The Resolution was adopted on 15 January 1999 and is predicated on a report by Member of European Parliament Richard Howitt, which is linked through the URL below. Since European Parliament resolutions are not binding for national member states, the matter is now before the European Commission. The Commission under Belgian presidency put corporate social responsibility (CSR) high on its agenda. A green paper (18/07/2001) and a white paper (16/707/2002) were published and the subject is now (as at June 2004) being considered by a 'Multi-stakeholder forum on CSR', comprising some 40 representatives from businesses, trade unions, consumer groups and NGOs. The forum will report in 2004.

http://www.cleanclothes.org/codes/howit.htm