"Will Europe continue to make business responsibility a priority?", 4 Aug 2014

There can be no complacency that Europe will continue to address the challenges of sustainable and responsible business according to the European Parliament Rapporteur on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), with just two weeks left for responses in a public consultation on the future of EU CSR policy. Richard Howitt...is appealing for as many responses as possible to ensure support for CSR is integrated in EU policies and programmes. A key achievement in the past year has been the requirement for large European companies to report on their social, environmental and human rights impact in their annual financial reports, but Rapporteur Howitt says it is crucial that companies have more achievements themselves on which to report. "This public consultation must be used as both an early opportunity to shape future priorities, and to restate that CSR is integral to the future of business itself." Respondents have until 15 August 2014 to reply to the consultation, which can be undertaken by logging on to: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sustainable-business/corporate-social-responsibility/public-consultation/index_en.htm