Corporate Social Responsibility

In October 2011, the European Commission published a Renewed EU Strategy 2011-2014 for Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR”) to set new definition and new agenda for action on responsible business.

The Commission’s proposal aims to boost economic growth, create new jobs, utilize positive impact of enterprises on society, and improve overall lack of trust to business. Commission’s responsible business package includes the Social Business Initiative and proposals to revise the Transparency and Accounting Directives. The Commission put forward a new definition of CSR as “the responsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society”. It also outlines what an enterprise should do to meet its responsibility.

CSR is mainly a voluntary concept driven by companies themselves according to their business strategies and the needs of stakeholders; however the requirements for responsible business may vary among the EU Member States but also at global level (UN, ILO and ISO guidelines). On 30th January, CEBRE together with the Representation of the European Commission and the Information office of the European Parliament held a debate on CSR in Prague. The speakers representing entrepreneurs, public administration and NGOs agreed that the CSR concept must remain voluntary. Richard Falbr, MEP and Member of the EP Employment and Social Affairs Committee said: “CSR shall not only be a concept applied in good economic times but a long term sustainable approach”. Number of speakers stressed out their motivation to contribute to the development of Czech national CSR strategy that shall address specific national circumstances, differences of various industrial sectors and reflect on the positive aspects of the European strategy.