Is the European Union a Pole of Corporate Social Responsibility?

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the analysis of the efforts made by the European Union authorities to encourage companies in the process of promoting sustainable development and involvement in various CSR actions. On the one hand, at the EU level, many regulations provide the general framework for the voluntary development of CSR programs. On the other hand, public institutions are involved in meeting sustainable development objectives set at the European and international levels. The tools are numerous, having a higher degree of adaptability depending on the company size, activities, and origin of the capital. Over time, the concerns of European institutions have intensified and have targeted not only the social responsibility of companies but also of public authorities, which through specific instruments can impose certain conduct on companies. The companies paid particular attention to ensure the communication of the actions taken and the results obtained with different categories of stakeholders.