Legal and Guidance Update August 2024

It has been another month since the recent election, and as a result of the changing political systems we have not had a significant releases of legislation for August. We fully expect major changes to come in the following months and we will endeavour to keep you updated. In the meantime, we invite you to take a look at the most recent additions to the EU legislative landscape that have been introduced in the last 3 months. In August, we sent out a full update to our subscribed users, including Primary and Secondary legislation. Of particular interest was the following:

Directive (EU) 2024/1500 on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation

Directive (EU) 2024/1500 sets standards for equality bodies to ensure equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation. It mandates that Member States establish or designate bodies responsible for promoting, analysing, monitoring, and supporting equal treatment in the workplace. These bodies are tasked with providing independent assistance to victims of discrimination, conducting independent surveys, issuing recommendations and reports, and exchanging available information with corresponding European bodies to enhance enforcement of equality laws. The directive emphasises the need for these bodies to have adequate resources, the capabilities to act independently, and the authority to effectively protect individuals against discrimination. This directive aims to strengthen the framework for gender equality in employment across the EU, ensuring that all individuals have access to fair treatment and equal opportunities in their professional lives.

Directive (EU) 2024/1760 on corporate sustainability due diligence

Directive (EU) 2024/1760 focuses on corporate sustainability due diligence. It requires companies to establish and implement due diligence processes to identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for negative impacts of their operations and business relationships on human rights and the environment. This directive applies to large companies and certain publicly listed SMEs within the EU, as well as non-EU companies with substantial activities in the EU market. Key provisions include the obligation for companies to integrate sustainability risk management into their policies, carry out regular assessments, and report publicly on their findings and actions. The directive also emphasises the importance of stakeholder engagement and consultation, particularly with affected communities. Moreover, it provides for enforcement mechanisms through national authorities and sets forth penalties for non-compliance. The directive aims to foster sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour throughout global supply chains, contributing to broader societal goals such as environmental protection and respect for human rights.

Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence

Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 sets harmonised rules for artificial intelligence (AI) within the European Union to ensure safety, transparency, and accountability in AI use while promoting innovation. It categorises AI systems by risk levels, imposing stricter requirements for higher-risk applications, including mandatory risk assessments, data governance, and human oversight. The regulation mandates transparency about AI operations and prohibits high-risk practices such as social scoring and real-time biometric identification in public areas. Enforcement is managed by national authorities with significant penalties for non-compliance, ensuring AI technologies are both beneficial and operate within a framework that protects citizens’ rights and safety.

New EU legislation published in August 2024 that has been added:

• 5 New Directives
• 13 New Regulations
• 2 New ‘other’ legislation