Eni & CSDDD

Wow! CSDDD will catch up with the Italian oil giant Eni! 

Will the company finally carry out "DueDiligence” on my case? 

Time will tell! 

Read more about "EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) in this LINK. 

Questions to Eni's Board of Directors

As Eni has been refusing, over these more than 22 long years, to carry out "due diligence" on my case, neglecting and disregarding its own commitments (such as the Code of Ethics), in addition to the international commitments that Eni boasted to the world that it "accepts" and follows" (such as the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, UNGP 31 and UN Global Compact), I would like to ask the Board of Directors some questions to help them see the company's real situation, making it clear that it was not a threat or intimidation, but just to serve as a warning:

Questions 01: How does our current situation align with Eni’s stated values regarding business ethics, human rights and whistleblower protection? How can the resolution of this case be seen as an opportunity for Eni to reinforce its leadership and commitment to ethical business practices? What is the opportunity for Eni to lead by example and demonstrate its commitment to fairness, transparency and integrity? What common interests can we identify that would help us find a mutually satisfactory solution for both sides? Are there precedents for how Eni has handled similar cases in the past? How can we ensure consistency with these precedents in resolving this conflict?

Questions 02: What are Eni's expectations if we continue without an agreement? What will be the costs of not resolving our conflict? Has Eni considered the serious consequences, including reputational ones, that it will face if our problem remains unresolved? Or does the company believe that the continuation of this conflict will not affect the corporate reputation among its Stakeholders?

Questions 03: In the event that we do not reach an agreement, what does the company imagine I will continue to do to satisfy my interests? What does Eni advise me to do? What will be our benefits if we do not end this dispute? How would Eni’s executives act if they were in my position, dealing with the damage and losses that I have accumulated over the years?

Questions 04: From now on, what path will Eni follow? What does Eni intend to do if we don't reach an agreement? Will the company continue with the strategy of attacking my honor and reputation? Will Eni continue with the strategy of playing the victim? Will the company continue to maintain the 3 SLAPP lawsuits in the Italian court? What will be the costs of this decision, not only financially, but also in terms of time, work of Eni’s employees and the impact on the company's internal morale? 

Read more:

1) "Fully proven facts known to the Board of Directors of Eni"

2) "Chronology of Facts" (2001 to 2022)

Eni x CSDDD: due diligence on my case!

I have already been waiting for 22 long years, and if necessary, I will continue to wait until 2027 to demand from the Italian courts that Eni finally carry out due diligence on my case!

Read more:

1) "Fully proven facts known to the Board of Directors of Eni": 

2) "Chronology of Facts" (2001 to 2022): 

PM Italy: I request your help!

Dear Mrs. Giorgia Meloni,

Two facts are undeniable! The first is that Italy is a "signatory government" to the “United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights”, also known as “UNGP 31”. 

The second fact is that the Italian government is the "controlling shareholder" of the Italian oil giant and, therefore, as the Prime Minister, you have decision-making power in Eni's Board of Directors.

Note that, during almost 23 long years, I fought against Eni to restore and rescue my name, honor, and reputation that was "attacked" and "destroyed" by the company.

Also note that, in all these years, five different Boards of Directors, under the management of three different CEOs, were contacted by me (2002, 2009, 2014, 2020, and 2023). But Eni didn't respond to my persistent messages! Furthermore, Mr. Mauro Meggiolaro, a journalist and “critical shareholder” of the company, took my case to be discussed at four Shareholders' Meetings (2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021), but, even though it positioned itself as our “mediator”, Eni never agreed to participate in a “mediation meeting”.

As if that wasn't more than enough, two other Italian journalists published my story in the first investigative book that told the “problems” in Eni's management for 25 years. The book, entitled “Eni: The Parallel State”, became a bestseller in Italy in just a few months.

Despite the facts being fully proven, Eni never carried out “due diligence”. Even during the "Good Offices", offered by the NCP Brazil in 2022 and 2023, by "neglecting" and "belittling" the “OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct”, the company refused to carry out a "due diligence" of my case. 

It's indisputable how Eni has been handling my case! In addition to using the Courts to punish me, as I am a “defendant” in three SLAPP lawsuits, the "corporate strategy" is a: “systemic imposition of retaliations with attacks on my honor and reputation, and victimization instrumentally architected to exempt the Eni from its own responsibilities”.

If you still have doubts about my case, I suggest you talk to the former director of Eni’s Board, Mr. Luigi Zingales, a professor at the University of Chicago. He knows me personally and knows that I speak the truth!

However, in the UNGP 31, "Principle 4" - which establishes “The State-Business Nexus” - guides the adherent nations to: 

“States should take additional steps to protect against human rights abuses by business enterprises that are owned or controlled by the State […] including, where appropriate, by requiring human rights due diligence”.

Therefore, I request your help so that the Italian government "requires" from Eni's Board of Directors that they, at last, carry out a "due diligence" of my case in light of the “UNGP 31”.

Read more:

1) "Fully proven facts known to the Board of Directors of Eni" 

2) "Chronology of Facts" (2001 to 2022)

I’m the founder and CEO of the Brazilian Business Ethics Institute which, for over 20 years, has been promoting Ethics in Brazil in the business and student environment. In fact, we are the "only" institution in my country that promotes the topic of Business Ethics to students, the leaders of tomorrow's companies… And what drove me to found this institution? My story with the Italian oil giant Eni!

It's been more than 22 long years that I've tried to rescue and restore my name, honor and reputation that were destroyed by Eni.

In all these years, five different Boards of Directors, under the management of three different CEOs (2002, 2009, 2014, 2020 and 2023), were contacted by me. But Eni doesn't respond to my persistent messages!

Furthermore, a journalist and "critical shareholder" of the company took my case to be discussed at four Shareholders' Meetings (2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022), but, even though he positioned himself as our "mediator", Eni never agreed to participate in a "mediation meeting".

As if that wasn't more than enough, two other Italian journalists published my story in the first investigative book that told the "problems" in Eni's management for 25 years. The book, entitled "Eni: The Parallel State", became a bestseller in Italy in just a few months.

You can learn more details about this story of "David" against "Goliath" in the attached files that demonstrate Eni's "attacks" against me that are totally contrary to "corporate commitments" (such as the Code of Ethics and Eni’s Declaration on Human Rights) and the "international commitments" that Eni trumpets to the entire world that it "follows" and "accepts": "OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises", "UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights", and the UN Global Compact .

Despite the facts being fully proven, Eni never carried out "Due Diligence". Quite the opposite! The company's strategy, in addition to using the courts to punish me, as I am a defendant in three "SLAPP lawsuits", is: “systemic imposition of retaliations with attacks on my name, honor and reputation, and victimization instrumentally architected to exempt Eni from its own responsibilities".

I would like you to tell my story, not because this story is unique, but because it is not!

Read more:

1) "Justification of Mr. Douglas Flinto to the major shareholders of Eni - Addition of new item to the AGM 2023 Agenda (May 10, 2023)"

2) "Chronology of Facts" to describe the events between ENI and DLF from 2001 to 2022