Corporate Social Responsibility and the European Electricity Sector

The social partners EURELECTRIC and EPSU/EMCEF agreed to work on Corporate Social Responsibility as part of their work programme in December 2003. They agreed the broad outlines for the debate at the plenary in June 2004. This note stipulates the further work to be undertaken.

The starting point for the work of the social partners is the definition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) provided by the European Commission (in its Green Paper and Communication):

“CSR is a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interactions with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis”

Through CSR business contributes to sustainable development. The social partners will analyse the current approaches used by the European electricity companies: focusing in particular on the social pillar.

This exercise is in line with the recommendations from the European Multi Stakeholder Forum on CSR:

- Raising awareness and improving knowledge on CSR: raising awareness of core values and key principles embodied in reference texts; collecting, exchanging and disseminating information about CSR, researching and improving knowledge about action on CSR;

- Developing the capacities and competence to help mainstream CSR: enhancing the capacity of business to understand and integrate CSR;

- Creating the right conditions for CSR: ensure credibility of CSR practices through, for example, reporting, dialogue and partnering with stakeholders, monitoring and communication of progress and results.

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