OECD complaint vs Electrogas shareholder Siemens － final report issued

A complaint procedure that the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation initiated on 17 October 2020 with the German National Contact Point (NCP) for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises about Siemens AG has been concluded. The Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climatic Action of Germany published the final report.

Our complaint to the German NCP focused on events related to the ElectroGas Malta consortium in which Siemens Project Venture GmbH (SPV) holds 33% of the shares. The German NCP accepted our case with regard to allegations raised under Chapter VII (Combating Bribery, Bribe Solicitation and Extortion) and XI (Taxation), and appointed an external mediator.

No compensation has been paid by Siemens AG to the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation nor to any member of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family, nor has any such compensation been requested from Siemens AG by the Foundation or by any member of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family.

The agreement referenced in the final report is not available for publication.

About the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises and the National Contact Points (NCPs)

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are recommendations addressed by governments to multinational enterprises operating in or from adhering countries. They provide non-binding principles and standards for responsible business conduct in a global context consistent with applicable laws and internationally recognised standards.

The OECD Guidelines reflect the expectation from governments to businesses on how to act responsibly. They bring together all thematic areas of business responsibility, including human rights and labour rights, as well as information disclosure, environmental protection, anti-corruption, consumer interests, science and technology, competition, and taxation. This comprehensiveness is a unique feature of the OECD Guidelines and makes it the only government-backed instrument covering all major sustainability risks.

Adherents to the OECD Guidelines set up National Contact Points (NCPs). Their task is to promote the effective implementation of the OECD Guidelines. The NCPs shall, in particular, raise awareness of the OECD Guidelines among business, trade unions and civil society and serve as a non-judicial grievance mechanism.