(14)EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks should not contribute to the promotion of investments in financial instruments issued by companies that violate global standards such as the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Principles. It is therefore necessary to lay down specific exclusion criteria that are based on climate-related or other environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations. EU Climate Transition benchmarks should comply with those exclusion criteria by 31 December 2022, in accordance with the timeline set out in Regulation (EU) 2016/1011.