A GENERAL FRAMEWORK OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSABILITY

In recent years, businesses, policy makers and the media have begun to employ the term CSR to describe a broad range of corporate activities which do not directly relate to the pursuit of profit. The aim of this paper is to provide a timeline approach on corporate social responsibility at the European Union level. It will provide a short description of the most important steps made regarding the governance of corporate social responsibility at a European level and also the main networks created in time. Key words: corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, CSR networks The social and political changes brought about by globalization have raised new questions as well as expectations about governance and social responsibilities. More and more companies of all sizes and sectors are recognizing the importance of their role in society and the real benefits of adopting a proactive approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). For the past three decades, business has been undergoing the most intense scrutiny it has ever received from the public. As a result of the many allegations being levelled at it – charges that it has little concern for the customer, cares nothing about the deteriorating social order, has no concept of acceptable ethical behaviour and is indifferent to the problems of minorities and the environment – concern is continuing to be expressed as to what responsibilities business has to society. These concerns have generated an unprecedented number of pleas fo