Corporate Social Responsibility In Europe

Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe

CSR in Latin America is still a practice in training;However, crossing the Atlantic Ocean, there is Europe, the continent where CSR is more entrenched and developed, by different factors, including the time that this practice arrives forming in that territory.

Appearance of corporate social responsibility in Europe

The European Vision of Corporate Social Responsibility was born since July 18, 2001 with the launch of the “Green Book” by the European Union Commission, where its theoretical framework expresses that the intention of the European Union on organizations is to projectCompetitiveness and dynamism for economic growth in a sustainable way resulting in a greater amount of employment generating social welfare. It is important to specify that this strategic objective is maintained over the years both in theory and in practice and we can highlight three. The first of these is to develop and boost the economic growth of the company having the necessary environmental care, guaranteeing the maintenance of resources for the following generations. Second, to promote a line of work in which European values in the economic-business aspects are well defined. And, as a third objective, there must be constant feedback on the knowledge and models carried out to evaluate and lead to a promotion to this responsibility. Therefore, this business activity of great impact on society denotes ethical-business reflection and a moral attitude to directly direct and achieve high levels of competitiveness.

Therefore, it can be concluded that this trend is defined and delimited longer than in the Latin American business environment. Today CSR is important in European society.

Importance of corporate social responsibility in Europe

Business organizations have an obligation and financial work from a cultural, social and scientific perspective, without forgetting their responsibility with the environment, workers and all that involved with some task in the company;The latter are called stakeholders. In Europe there has been a vertiginous advance regarding the activities that are part of the CSR. This is causing a positive trend, verified by a series of surveys at the managerial level and the numbers indicate that there will be growth in social-ecological activities in the coming years. Therefore, it is very important that “companies carry out the necessary transformations to find their strategy, since today there is a trilogy of terms around sustainable development: ecology, economy and society. Each component of the trilogy works only with the other two." 

The European Style of Corporate Social Responsibility

The difference between the efficiency and development of CSR in Europe and Latin America is notorious, however, a comparative should not be taken as the obligation to imitate European CSR in its entirety, this because the context, the background and realityThey are different between both companies. However, analyzing the European style of this trend serves as a guide on which we can align business actions.

“European countries consider that the basis of corporate social responsibility is the code of conduct for companies: responsible attitudes begin in companies, with respect for human rights, compliance with work standards and environmental protectionambient;In addition, companies have the obligation to have equal treatment with collaborators.”Being his motivation to carry an exercise with society at a voluntary level to acquire its influential confidence and credibility for its economic success. This responsibility will lead companies to enjoy a better reputation in front of their community and also reinforce relations with their stakeholders;A commitment to all your interest groups. So that it becomes a general and voluntary commitment that goes beyond the laws and builds an adequate business environment.

Previously a review was carried out in the different European countries taking into account the most representative. Where we find Germany, Austria, Denmark, Spain, England and Russia. Each takes various strategies according to the structure and dynamics that face their policies since they enjoy different cultures, societies and economies. However, they all take the appropriate importance to CSR activities. For example, in Denmark the environmental concern plays a fundamental role, where concepts and measures have been integrated for regulation within recent years. Or in England where the government plays an important role in the social impact of business and their rights making it a country focused on development based on the capacities provided by CSR. As well as by certain areas, expectations have decreased, as is the case of Germany, and it is not because of the lack of interest but because there is no differentiation of concepts or established planning. However, it should be noted that Europe has been promoting its own and distinctive model of CSR, since the policies that are developed in its programs are very precise to sustain CSR in companies. 

In relation to the above, it can be inferred that what differentiates the European CSR of others is motivation, this is born from the businessmen themselves when trying to acquire confidence and credibility from the consumer public, in addition to greater normativization and promotion by promotion bypart of the State in CSR matters.