Source date: 2026-03-02
CSRD: Understanding the New Obligations for French Companies Published on March 3, 2026 - Entreprendre Service Public / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
In a directive published in the Official Journal of the European Union, the European Parliament and the Council are amending the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which sets standards and obligations for companies regarding non-financial reporting. Here’s an explanation.
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What is the CSRD?
The CSRD is a European text aimed at encouraging the sustainable development of companies. It follows the 2014 directive on the publication of non-financial information and harmonizes the non-financial reporting of European companies.
The information collected (data on environmental, social, and governance factors) is used to better assess the impact of the company and its activities on the environment.
Currently, the CSRD applies to companies with more than 500 employees. It was planned that the directive would come into effect for other companies according to the following schedule:
Affected Companies
2028 (for the year 2027)
Companies that meet two of the following criteria:
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have more than 250 employees;
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have a turnover exceeding €50 million;
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have a total balance sheet exceeding €25 million.
2029 (for the year 2028)
Listed SMEs (except micro-enterprises) meeting two of the following criteria:
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have between 10 and 250 employees;
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have a turnover exceeding €900,000 and less than €50 million;
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have a total balance sheet exceeding €450,000 and less than €25 million.
The so-called "Omnibus I" directive of February 24, 2026, modifies the application of the CSRD to simplify it and "reduce the administrative burdens for companies."
What Changes Are Made to the CSRD?
The amending directive modifies the CSRD.
First, it changes the scope of companies required to publish their non-financial information:
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for EU companies, this obligation will only apply to companies with more than 1,000 employees and a net turnover exceeding €450 million;
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for companies from third countries, the information obligations will now apply to companies whose parent company has a net turnover exceeding €450 million in the EU.
Next, it introduces the "Value Chain Cap." This mechanism allows companies with fewer than 1,000 employees to refuse to disclose information other than that required by voluntary information standards.
Finally, it gives member states the option to exempt companies not meeting the new application conditions of the CSRD that were supposed to report in 2025 and 2026.
These provisions must be transposed into French law by March 19, 2027, at the latest.
They will soon be integrated into the RSE Portal, which aims to inform companies about their obligations regarding corporate social responsibility.
The directive of February 24, 2026, also modifies the CS3D (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive) regarding companies' duty of care in terms of sustainability.
This duty of care requires affected companies to identify and assess in their activities the "actual or potential impacts on human rights and the environment."
Previously, this obligation only applied to companies with more than 1,000 employees and a net turnover exceeding €450 million globally.
Now, only companies with more than 5,000 employees and a net turnover exceeding €1.5 billion globally must apply this directive.
Member states will have to implement the provisions of this directive starting from July 26, 2029.
Legal Texts and References
See also
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CSRD: Sustainability Information for Listed SMEs and Similar Entities
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Sustainability and Duty of Care: Simplified Rules for Companies European Parliament
Document presenting the company's financial situation at a given moment (e.g., at the end of its accounting period). It lists what the company owns (assets) and what it owes (liabilities).
Source: Service-Public professionals
