Brussels, 06/12/2006
Since the European Commission issued its Communication on CSR in April 2006, in which it declared that Europe must become a pole of excellence, and since the start of organisation of the new meeting of the Forum, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), together with NGOs, has stressed that the Communication betrays the spirit of the Forum, in giving voice to the business side only. Even the proposed 'European Alliance for CSR' appears to be more of a self-congratulatory activity than serious work on CSR.
The ETUC believes, on the other hand, that CSR still has a social and economic value that could bring mutual benefit to all stakeholders in a win-win game. Yet the Communication's approach dissipates such value and make the whole concept of CSR less credible. It is far from making Europe a “pole of excellence”.
The ETUC believes that CSR cannot be effective without addressing the supply chain and the traceability of goods and services throughout the production process, and cannot be credible without a transparent and open system of social reporting. Europe can become a pole of excellence, for instance, by making respect for CSR criteria a condition of access to public funding or tenders, and establishing a multilateral European body to increase and spread information and knowledge about CSR priorities. Finally, CSR cannot be credible, in the face of the proliferation of certification agencies and similar instruments, without an effective system of liability and accountability.
In preparing for the Forum, the ETUC has demonstrated a constructive approach that currently contrasts with the rigidity of the business side, which still adopts an ideological position based on self-centered unilateralism.
The ETUC will participate in the Forum meeting with the aim of highlighting shortcomings in the European concept of CSR, and reaffirming the European trade union movement's readiness to cooperate with all stakeholders who take the same view that CSR can be a win-win game if applied jointly by all sides.
The ETUC also shares the concerns expressed by NGOs, and at the institutional level in preparations by the Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC) and in the Draft Report recently discussed in the European Parliament.