REPORTS
5.4

Local Meets Europe

Location: European Parliament - Brussels
Date: 09 February 2006

Objectives:

On 9 February 2006, the CSR Vaderegio Network and the web site www.csrvaderegio.net were launched at an event in the European Parliament. The occasion was an excellent opportunity to highlight the role of local and regional authorities in promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It also offered a welcome forum for discussion about the relationship between CSR and regional matters, including such important subjects as regional competitiveness, innovation and learning processes.

Audience:

75-85 people coming from local and regional authorities, social organizations and businesses.

Contribution:

Ms. Kyla Brand, AGENDA Social Responsibility in Scotland and CSR Vaderegio member. Mr. Dominique Be; DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (European Union). Mr. Richard Howitt; European Parliament. Ms. Eva Armesto; Regional Government of Biscay. Ms. Giuseppina de Lorenzo; Regional Government of Tuscany. Ms Susan Shippey; City of Edinburgh Council. Mr. Alex McGillivray, Accountability. Ms. Mª José Gomez, Regional Government of Andalusia Mr. Eric Kniaz; Regional Government of Nord pas de Calais. Mr. Peter Lazy; Executive Director of the European Academy for Business in Society.

Content:

The Event had the following sections: - CSR Vaderegio Network presentation - European Union perspective on CSR - Public policies which promotes CSR at regional and local level - Keynote speech about CSR, Competitiveness and regional authorities given by Alex McGillivray (Accountability). - CSR Vaderegio Forum: Debate about different topics with regard to CSR and regional and local authorities.

Conclusions:

In summarising the debate Peter Lacy concluded that the exchanges demonstrated already the value of a network such as CSR Vaderegio focused on the role and relationship of public au-thorities with CSR. Many aspects would bear further consideration and this discussion was just a starting point. Other provocative hypotheses could now be debated on-line at www.csrvaderegio.net. He commended the network to others with interest in local and regional development of CSR.

Contact:

csr@csrvaderegio.net

More info:

LocalmeetsEuropereport.pdf EN (PDF 83 Kb)