Modern Business Responsibility for MSMEs

Background

This own-initiative opinion from the European Economic and Social Committee focuses on the concept of modern business responsibility as it applies to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

This concept refers to the proactive, voluntary engagement of enterprises with principles of economic, social and environmental sustainability, as well as enterprises' level of ambition to go beyond the legal or regulatory minimum in these fields.

Given that MSMEs comprise 99% of all businesses in the EU and account for two thirds of the private-sector workforce, these enterprises have a vital role to play in the transition to a greener, more sustainable and fairer economy through more responsible business practices.

The opinion focuses on the advantages to MSMEs of adopting the modern business responsibility approach and suggests tools and approaches that could be developed to assist MSMEs in embracing these principles.

Key points

The EESC:

• stresses that MSMEs will need a lot of support to adopt the full range of modern business responsibility practices. In order to provide such support, the EESC suggests creating MSME alliances that will help develop the necessary skills and competences. The Committee also suggests that employers' organisations and trade unions, professional chambers and associations, training bodies and civil society organisations should join forces to help meet this challenge.
• recommends developing simple and practical tools such as checklists, templates and calculators, and alternative-scenario analyses which MSMEs can use to develop their operations in line with modern business responsibility and to report on their commitments and achievements;
• welcomes the European Commission's plan to adopt a non-financial reporting standard applicable to MSMEs in 2024, but insists that it must be clear and simple, in line with the principles enshrined in the SME Relief Package.

Link to full opinion

Additional information

EESC section responsible: Single Market, Production and Consumption (INT)

Opinion type: own-initiative opinion

Rapporteurs: Milena ANGELOVA (Employers - BG), Ferre WYCKMANS (Workers - BE), Rudolf KOLBE (Civil Society Organisations - AT)

Date of adoption by section: 03/10/2023

Result of the vote: 73 votes in favour, none against, with 1 abstention.

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