The European Economic and Social Committee approved three opinions which focus on how to give new impetus to the social sector and corporate responsibility. According to the EESC, social Europe can be translated into business opportunities and the much-needed creation of jobs.

Members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) approved three opinions at the last plenary session focusing on corporate responsibility and social enterprises. The EESC encouraged policy makers to foster social entrepreneurship and enhance corporate social responsibility in the EU. In particular, the opinions approved focuses on how to give new impetus to the social sector and promote the social involvement of European companies.

The EESC invites the Commission and Member States to make public procurement and access to finance more accessible to social enterprises, develop national frameworks for the growth of social enterprises and appropriately implement the European Social Entrepreneurship Fund, says two of the three opinions adopted - on European Social Entrepreneurship Funds, and Social Business Initiative. Moreover the EESC wants to strengthen growth, employment and competitiveness, while creating a more inclusive society that is in line with the Europe 2020 strategy.

The third opinion adopted by the EESC supports the voluntary nature of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), but criticises the lack of plans to encourage and help enterprises to take responsibility for their impact on society. The European Commission launched a new strategy for CSR for the period 2011-2014. Among other things, the Committee calls for specific measures for SMEs and greater attention to the sector of social enterprise, which has been neglected in the CSR policy initiative.