Opportunity and Responsibility

The report "Opportunity and Responsibility – how to help more small businesses to integrate social and environmental issues" aims to increase the quality and quantity of initiatives taken to support the uptake of CSR amongst SMEs. It captures the state-of-the-art in Europe at the present time and should provide ideas and inspiration for new and better initiatives. It is a contribution to the debate on CSR in Europe and it should help to advance understanding and recognition of the particular role of SMEs in the development of CSR.

This report is addressed in the first place to persons and organisations that work with and for SMEs: business support organisations, SME or sector representative organisations, trade unions, networks and non-governmental organisations. It is also addressed to policy-makers that deal with SME policy issues, CSR or other policies such as competitiveness, social inclusion, regional development, research and education. Last but by no means least, it should also be of interest to persons and organisations that are specialised in the area of CSR.

This report is the work of the European Expert Group on CSR and SMEs, established by the European Commission in September 2005. The group comprised experts appointed by EU Member States, from a variety of backgrounds: SME and employers’ organisations, non-governmental organisations, CSR networks, academics and civil servants.