Strasbourg, 25/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - The own initiative report by Harlem Désir (S&D, France) adopted in plenary session on Thursday 25 November by 480 votes to 487, with 6 abstentions, proposes that corporate social responsibility (CSR) principles and obligations, developed from OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, complement the social clauses and sustainable development chapters in trade agreements negotiated by the EU. These “CSR clauses” should incorporate incentives to encourage undertakings to enter into CSR commitments and be accompanied by other provisions that allow competent authorities to carry out investigations in the event of proven breaches of CSR commitments and to name and shame those responsible. The Désir report also calls for CSR to be promoted multilaterally, in particular at the WTO. It calls for the extension of CSR, under the principles of which companies build social and environmental concerns into their activities (respect for employment, social relations, human rights, the environment, consumers' rights, anti-corruption and taxation legislation) to new areas, such as organisation of the working day and week, equal opportunities and social inclusion, tackling discrimination, and education and life-long learning. (E.H./transl.rt)