Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-05-30-Speech-4-049"
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"en.20020530.4.4-049"2
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"Mr President, I should like to thank the rapporteur warmly for the work he has done.
In the Green Paper, the Commission mentions what is usually understood by social responsibility. This term is used to indicate that companies consider social issues and the environment of their own free will in the context of their company activities and in their relations with other parties. The Commission is right to point out that by assuming their social responsibility, companies do more than is legally required of them. This is exactly what has led to the biggest differences of opinion in this House. Listening to the rapporteur, one could be forgiven for thinking that the whole world can be changed not only by means of social responsibility, but especially with legislation based on this principle. Everything changes for the better, including child labour. I am surprised that volcanic eruptions have not been abolished.
This is, of course, far beyond the reach of this instrument. Social responsibility is what it is about. Legislation is only secondary; this only needs adjusting in certain cases when social responsibility causes problems. A great deal can be achieved with social responsibility, but if, on the other hand, you immediately resort to legislation, you end up on the wrong path. This is like going to the football World Cup in Korea and saying that you want to watch hockey.
Legislation in itself is not bad, and this is not what the PPE-DE is saying, but it does not belong in this report; it belongs in other reports. By using this term, you cannot suddenly introduce a whole raft of legislation. This must be done at the right time and in the right place. In my opinion, the Commission has borne this difference in mind at all times. Furthermore, I also think that it would not work, for if people think that by being socially responsible they are tied to legislation, this will not work as an incentive.
For all these reasons, pragmatic and principled, the report that is now before us, including our amendments, is the right one. Indeed, it is based on free will, and this is what we need to base ourselves on. We can then reach agreement with everyone involved and achieve all these fine goals."@en1
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