24/3/2006
Launch of “European Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility”

How can we inspire European enterprises to go beyond their minimum legal obligations in favour of society and sustainable development? How can we best encourage a greater business commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?

To mobilise the resources and capacities of European enterprises and to make Europe a pole of excellence on CSR, the European Commission this week announced its backing of the launch of a “European Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility”. The new Alliance has an open nature and European enterprises of all sizes are invited to voluntarily express their support.

The Alliance is not a legal instrument to be signed by enterprises. It is a political umbrella for new or existing CSR initiatives by large companies, SMEs and their stakeholders. It should lead to new partnerships and new opportunities for all stakeholders in their efforts to promote CSR.

Today’s initiative is the follow-up of a broad consultation with all stakeholders in the European Multi-stakeholder Forum on CSR, which presented its final report in 2004. The Commission proposes to re-convene meetings of this Forum in 2006 to review progress on CSR with all stakeholders.

Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, responsible for enterprise and industry policy said: “This Alliance will help reconcile Europe’s economic, social and environmental ambitions. The Commission has opted for a voluntary approach that is more effective and less bureaucratic. Since CSR is about voluntary business behaviour, we can only encourage it if we work with business. Europe needs a public climate in which entrepreneurs are appreciated not just for making good profits but also for making a fair contribution to addressing societal challenges.”

Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla added: “The partnership launched today is an open alliance, which aims to give new impetus to CSR initiatives. I believe that CSR can help workers better adapt to change and gain the skills for the 21st century economy. It can also contribute to make equal opportunities a reality in European companies and encourage the integration of disadvantaged groups.”