Corporate Social Responsibility and Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the predominant form of enterprise in the European Union.
If Europe and its enterprises are to reap the full benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), it is vital to make sure that SMEs are fully engaged and that what they do is fully recognised.
This is a particular challenge because CSR as a term and as a definable business concept has been created mainly by and for larger companies.
Small businesses are typically not less responsible than large enterprises.
They may not know and use the term "CSR", but their close relations with employees, the local community and business partners often mean they have a naturally responsible approach to business.
The Commission believes that for most SMEs, the process by which they meet their social responsibility will remain informal and intuitive.
Pioneering role of the European Commission
The Commission has played a leading role in thought and action on CSR as it relates to small business. It has co-financed a number of projects 
[105 KB] in this field and has worked with a group of European experts to capture lessons on how best to support and encourage more SMEs to engage in CSR.
The expert group report, published in 2007, is available here:
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Full report [684 KB]
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Summary of the key messages of the report [101 KB]
Future plans
The CSR policy published by the European Commission in October 2011 contains some elements that are particularly relevant to SMEs:
- In 2012, the Commission will support a networking and capacity-building programme for people and organisations that advise SMEs on CSR issues, to improve the quality and quantity of advice that is available.
- In 2012 the Commission will work with enterprises and other stakeholders to develop human rights guidance for SMEs.
Newsletter on CSR and SMEs
Subscribe to the European Responsible Entrepreneurship Bulletin, a bi-monthly electronic newsletter on CSR and small businesses, by sending an email with "subscribe" in the subject line to entr-csr@ec.europa.eu
Other resources :
