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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can make a contribution to the strategic goal set by the Lisbon Summit of March 2000, and to the European Strategy for Sustainable Development, as well as to promoting core labour standards and improving social and environmental governance in the context of globalisation. The CSR Communication*, adopted by the Commission on 2 July 2002, proposes to set up an EU Multistakeholder Forum on CSR with the aim to promote CSR through raising the level of understanding of CSR, and fostering a dialogue between the business community, trade unions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

Establishment

A European Multistakeholder Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (hereinafter referred to as "the CSR EMS Forum") is hereby established.

Objectives

With the overall aim to foster corporate social responsibility, the CSR EMS Forum shall promote innovation, transparency and convergence of CSR practices and instruments through:

• improving knowledge about the relationship between CSR and sustainable development (including its impact on competitiveness, social cohesion and environmental protection) by facilitating the exchange of experience and good practices and bringing together existing CSR instruments and initiatives, with a special emphasis on SME specific aspects;
• exploring the appropriateness of establishing common guiding principles for CSR practices and instruments, taking into account existing EU initiatives and legislation and internationally agreed instruments such as OECD Guidelines for multinational enterprises, Council of Europe Social Charter, ILO core labour conventions and the International Bill of Human Rights.

The CSR EMS Forum shall consist of EU-level representative organisations of employers, employees and civil society as well as other business organisations (see annex). A balanced representation of the different stakeholders shall be ensured. The European Commission shall chair the CSR EMS Forum. Other EU institutions, as well as other organisations active in the field of CSR shall be invited to attend with observer status.

The CSR EMS Forum shall meet at:

• high level to agree on the objectives, composition and operational aspects of the Forum, its agenda, and to assess progress;
• the level of theme-based Round Tables, addressing the following themes:
  • improving knowledge about CSR and facilitating the exchange of experience and good practice;
  • fostering CSR among SMEs;
  • diversity, convergence and transparency of CSR practices and tools;
  • development aspects of CSR.

Moreover, competitiveness, social cohesion, environmental protection, the consumer dimension and the international dimension, including human rights, democratisation and conflict prevention aspects, shall be taken into account, as cross-cutting issues, by all the Round Tables. The Forum may also decide to address other issues.

In addition to the Forum members, other stakeholders and experts shall be invited, when appropriate, to participate in or to facilitate the work of the Round Tables, including through the use of adequate electronic means. Participation from representatives of developing countries shall also be ensured, when appropriate.

The CSR EMS Forum shall present before summer 2004 a report about its work and conclusions to the European Commission.

A Co-ordination Committee composed of representatives from the Commission and from participating organisations shall be responsible for the preparation of the Forum meetings and Round Tables. The Co-ordination Committee shall include:

• Up to a maximum of two representatives nominated by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) co-ordinating the point of view of trade unions;
• Up to a maximum of two representatives nominated by the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE) co-ordinating the point of view of employers;
• Up to a maximum of two representatives nominated by the European Business Network for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR Europe) co-ordinating the point of view of business networks active in the field of CSR;
• Up to a maximum of two representatives nominated by the Green G8 and the Platform of European Social NGOs coordinating the point of view of civil society organisations.

Operational Aspects

The CSR EMS Forum at political level shall meet at least once a year.

Meetings of the CSR EMS Forum shall be convened by the Commission, in agreement with the Co-ordination Committee.

The activities of the Forum shall be supported from within the existing financial, human and administrative resources of the European Commission.

The agenda, documents tabled and results of the CSR EMS Forum and Round Tables will be public and posted on the Europa website.

The Commission shall offer reimbursement for travel and subsistence expenses to the CSR EMS Forum and Round Tables participants, in accordance with the administrative regulations applicable.

Document's Table of Contents

Section	Page
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION concerning Corporate Social Responsibility: A business contribution to Sustainable Development	1
1. Introduction	3
2. Synthesis of consultation on Green Paper on CSR	3
3. A European action framework for CSR	5
4. Improve the knowledge about CSR and facilitate the exchange of experience and good practice	9
4.1. Increasing knowledge about the impact of CSR on business and society	9
4.2. Developing the exchange of experience and good practices on CSR between businesses	10
4.3. Developing the exchange of experience and good practices on CSR between Member states	10
4.4. Developing CSR management skills	11
4.5. Fostering CSR among SMEs	11
5. Promoting convergence and transparency of CSR practices and tools	12
5.1. Codes of conduct	13
5.2. Management standards	14
5.3. Measurement, reporting and assurance	14
5.4. Labels	15
5.5. Socially Responsible Investment (SRI)	16
6. Launching a EU multi-stakeholder forum on CSR	17
7. Integrating CSR in all EU policies	18
7.1. Employment and social affairs policy	19
7.2. Enterprise policy	20
7.3. Environmental policy	20
7.4. Consumer Policy	21
7.5. Public procurement policy	21
7.6. External relations policies, including development policy and trade	22
7.7. Public administrations	24

 

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