Brussels, 03/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption of the report by Richard Howitt (PES, UK) on the need to promote a European framework for the social responsibility of companies, a report that was considerably amended (mainly by the Liberal Group), the European Parliament welcomes the considerable reaction caused by the Commission consultation on this subject (see EUROPE of 27 and 28 May, p.18), as well as initiatives from the social partners and NGOs aimed at promoting corporate social responsibility. According to the EP, such initiatives are preferable to legislation and are more effective "for reaching measurable results". Danish Liberal Anne Jensen in particular welcomed this. She said: "Corporate social responsibility is by nature voluntary and cannot be efficiently developed by regulation. I am delighted that Parliament has followed the Liberal Democrats' lead in placing the emphasis on information rather than regulation". According to Ms Jensen, the Dublin Foundation for improving living and working conditions is best placed for ensuring information is exchanged between companies on best practices of social responsibility, given its wide experience in the matter. We recall that this voluntary approach was emphasised by the European Economic and Social Committee in the report by Renate Hordnung-Draus (see EUROPE of 27/28 May, p.18).
The Parliament also calls on the Commission to encourage application of the social responsibility of companies in all general interest services and to promote the role of the various services of general interest with a view to fighting social exclusion and guaranteeing minimum norms for the provision of services. It stresses that the local public services conceived as being of a non-profit making nature play an essential role in meeting the needs of victims of social exclusion and that the social economy companies have acquired great experience in the field of social responsibility. The EP calls on social partners to reach an agreement in response to the communication on restructuring (see EUROPE of 11 January, p.9). Finally, the Parliament regrets that the social and environmental practices of European companies are subject to control comparable to that relating to competition practices.