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Orientation Research behind this presentation Activities of RIMAS

CSR Policies in EU Member States: An Overview of Topics and Instruments Reinhard Steurer Gerald Berger RIMAS - Research Institute for Managing Sustainability Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration www.sustainability.eu. Orientation

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Orientation Research behind this presentation Activities of RIMAS

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  1. CSR Policies in EU Member States: An Overview of Topics and Instruments Reinhard SteurerGerald BergerRIMAS - Research Institute for Managing SustainabilityVienna University of Economics and Business Administrationwww.sustainability.eu

  2. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR PoliciesConceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy fieldInstruments and topics • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  3. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies Conceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy field Instruments and topics • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  4. Recent projects on SD • “European Environment” special issue on SD Strategies in Europe • European Sustainable Development Network: ESDN Office www.sd-network.eu (financed by 8 European countries) Recent projects on CSR • Policies on CSR in Europe (City of Vienna) • Corporate Sustainability and CSR in Western and CEE Europe (Austrian National Bank) • Analysis of National Policies on CSR -- www.sustainability.eu/csr-policies for EU CSR High Level Group (DG Employment)

  5. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR PoliciesConceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy field Instruments and topics • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  6. Economic dimension Societal Concept Sustainable Development SRM Corporate Concept Corporate Sustainability Management Approach CSR EMAS ISO26000 Management Systems SRM SRM Environmental dimension Social dimension Source: Steurer, R et al (2005), Journal of Business Ethics, 61/3, 263-281. Starting Point of conceptual development Stakeholder Relations Management (SRM) Level of specification

  7. Preliminary conclusions „CSR is a business contribution to SD” (European Commission 2001) Since CSR re-defines state-business and business- society relations, shaping concept and activities also concerns governments and civil society CSR policies are a new „government contribution to SD“ that complements (or compensates for the lack of) traditional social and environmental policies

  8. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies Conceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy fieldInstruments and topics • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  9. CSR policy instruments • Informational or endorsing instruments:Campaigns, guidelines, trainings • Partnering instruments:Agreements, networks, PPPs, dialogues • Financial or economic instruments: Subsidies, grants, prices/awards • Legal (mandating) instruments:Laws, regulations, decrees • „Hybrid instruments“ • Strategies, action plans, platforms, centres Source: Fox T, Ward H, Howard B. 2002; World Bank; http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdf/full/16014IIED.pdf CSR policies study on awareness raising, see www.sustinability.eu/csr-policies

  10. Character of policy instruments in general • Informational or endorsing instruments:Campaigns, guidelines, trainings • Partnering instruments:Agreements, networks, PPPs, dialogues • Financial or economic instruments: Subsidies, grants, prices/awards • Legal (mandating) instruments:Laws, regulations, decrees • „Hybrid instruments“ • Strategies, action plans, platforms, centres New governance and “soft-law approach” Regulatory approach

  11. Character of CSR policy instruments • Informational or endorsing instruments:Campaigns, guidelines, trainings • Partnering instruments:Agreements, networks, PPPs, dialogues • Financial or economic instruments: Subsidies, grants, prices/awards • Legal (mandating) instruments:Laws, regulations, decrees • „Hybrid instruments“ • Strategies, action plans, platforms, centres New governance and “soft-law approach”

  12. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR PoliciesConceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy fieldInstrument and topics • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  13. Key topics of CSR policies Not traditional social and environmental regulations, but • Raise awareness and build capacities for CSR • Increase disclosure, transparency and stakeholder involvement • Foster Socially Responsible Investment • Help develop and apply management/audit tools and practices • Lead by example by adopting SR/SD practices in government bodies, in particular regarding public procurement, reporting and auditing

  14. Topics covered in study for DG Employment Not traditional social and environmental regulations, but • Raise awareness and build capacities for CSR • Increase disclosure, transparency and stakeholder involvement • Foster Socially Responsible Investment • Help develop and apply management/audit tools and practices • Lead by example by adopting SR/SD practices in government bodies, in particular regarding public procurement, reporting and auditing

  15. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR PoliciesConceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy field Topics and policy tools • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  16. CSR awareness raising initiatives in Europe • RationaleIncrease awareness for CSR among government authorities, businesses and stakeholders • Method • 24 telephone interviews - 20 EU Member States covered • 3 case studies (Sw, NL, Den) • 3. Number of initiatives85

  17. Overview of CSR awareness raising instruments Others; 7.0% Education activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 17.7% Institutions: platforms/ centres; 8.2% Action plans/ programmes/strategy for CSR; 9.4% Government-sponsored guidelines; 10.6% Economic incentives (loans, grants, subsidies); 3.5% Information resources, e.g. website, studies, reports etc.; 10.6% Prices and awards (CSR audits/labels); 8.2% Multi-stakeholder fora; 4.8% Information/awareness raising campaigns; 9.4% Networks/partnerships/ agreements; 10.6%

  18. Target groups of CSR awareness raising Companies; 40.3% Consumers/consumer organizations/general public; 7% SMEs; 12.4% NGOs; 10.1% Universities/schools; 6.2% Business/industry sectors; 1.6% Trade unions/social partners; 8.5% Young people; 1.6% Ministries/governmental officials; 7.6% Employees; 1.6% Others; 3.1%

  19. Target groups of CSR awareness raising Companies; 40.3% Consumers/consumer organizations/general public; 7% SMEs; 12.4% NGOs; 10.1% Few initiatives focus exclusively on SMEs(no prices/awards) ---generally regarded as most important target group Trade unions/social partners; 8.5% Ministries/governmental officials; 7.6%

  20. Target groups of CSR awareness raising Companies; 40.3% Consumers/consumer organizations/general public; 7% SMEs; 12.4% NGOs; 10.1% Social partnersrarely mentioned as target group (even not in networks, multi-stakeholder fora etc.) Trade unions/social partners; 8.5% Ministries/governmental officials; 7.6%

  21. Three case studies on CSR awareness raising • Denmark:“People & Profit” • Programme initiated in 2004 • Activities: research, training, dissemination of information • Goal: enhance competitiveness (foster CSR as a business case) • Netherlands:“Knowledge and Information Centre” on CSR since 2004 • Disseminate knowledge and good practices • Promote stakeholder dialogues • Foster partnerships • Sweden:“Globalt Ansvar” • Partnership for global responsibility • Government invites companies to join the partnership by adopting the OECD guidelines and the UN Global Compact

  22. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies Conceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy field Topics and policy tools • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  23. Sustainable Public Procurement • RationaleBy making public procurement sustainable governments provide economic incentives for CSR • Method24 interviews, 7 times (additional) written information, 26 EU Member States covered • Number of initiatives103

  24. Overview of SPP initiatives Educational activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9% Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8% Government-sponsored guidelines; 13.6% Action plans/programmes/strategies for CSR; 27.2% Information resources, e.g. websites, studies, reports, etc.; 11.7% Information/awareness raising campaigns; 1.9% Circulars; 4.9% Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0% 1/3 Decrees, resolutions; 4.9% Laws; 25.2%

  25. EU Directives* on PP: Status of implementation 19: implemented 2 (Es, Lux): in preparation 1: not implemented 5: status unclear * „Procurement directive“ 2004/18/EC „Utilities directive“ 2004/17/EC

  26. Overview of SPP initiatives Educational activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9% Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8% Government-sponsored guidelines; 13.6% Action plans/programmes/strategies for CSR; 27.2% Information resources, e.g. websites, studies, reports, etc.; 11.7% 1/3 Information/awareness raising campaigns; 1.9% Circulars; 4.9% Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0% Decrees, resolutions; 4.9% Laws; 25.2%

  27. Member States with National Action Plans on SPP/GPP 9: NAP adopted 7: NAP in preparation/ drafted 3: No (draft) NAP 8: Status unclear

  28. Overview of SPP initiatives Educational activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9% Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8% Government-sponsored guidelines; 13.6% Action plans/programmes/strategies for CSR; 27.2% Information resources, e.g. websites, studies, reports, etc.; 11.7% Information/awareness raising campaigns; 1.9% Economic/financial instruments are missing, but… Circulars; 4.9% Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0% Decrees, resolutions; 4.9% Laws; 25.2%

  29. Overview of SPP initiatives Educational activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9% Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8% Government-sponsored guidelines; 13.6% Action plans/programmes/strategies for CSR; 27.2% Information resources, e.g. websites, studies, reports, etc.; 11.7% Information/awareness raising campaigns; 1.9% Circulars; 4.9% Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0% Decrees, resolutions; 4.9% Laws; 25.2%

  30. Target groups of SPP initiatives Public sector in general; 66.0% National/federal level; 19.4% Business; 10.7% „Direct“ target group: 92.2% public sector „Indirect“ target group 100% businesses Others; 1.9% Regional and/or local level; 6.8% not identified; 8.7%

  31. Orientation • Research behind this presentationActivities of RIMAS • Sustainable Develpoment: The context of CSR Policies Conceptual and political clarifications • The CSR policy field Topics and policy tools • A closer look at two topicsCSR awareness raising & Sustainable Public Procurement • ConclusionsEU and Member State policies on CSR

  32. Conclusions on CSR policies in Europe • CSR policies are different to traditional policy fields • because they rely more on new governance and soft-law • CSR policies can be pursued proactively or passively, depending on political ideologies and interests (change of course by the European Commission in 2005/2006!) • CSR policies complement traditional policies, • i.e. they cannot replace social, environmental or trade regulations completely

  33. THANK YOU! Reinhard Steurer reinhard.steurer@wu-wien.ac.at Gerald Berger Gerald.berger@wu-wien.ac.at RIMAS – Research Institute for Managing Sustainability Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration Vienna, Austria www.sustainability.eu

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