Policy Making for Corporate Social Responsibility and Responsible Entrepreneurship in Greece: EU Policy Framework, Governance Context and Business Sector as Aspects in Sustainable Development Process

Abstract

Policy for responsible entrepreneurship is linked with the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies and practices in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union (EU) and members states, including Greece. Consequently, political convergence in the policy issues of entrepreneurship and CSR in SMEs, is essential for the EU political homogenization in particular for strategies such as the fulfillment of Sustainable Development Goals 2030. The policy making for responsible entrepreneurship for SMEs is vital part for SD and CSR evolution, whilst it sets the prerequisite for business sector involvement and engagement via synergies with state. According to existing policies in the EU these synergies are taking place via informational, partnerships and hybrid policy tools, which are vital for the enforcement of CSR policies in a multilevel governance context. Responsible entrepreneurship is a niche policy topic for CSR since 2002 and 2003, which targets SMEs because of their significant impact in economic growth, employment creation and human development in the EU and mainly in Greece. In the EU, the policy evolution of CSR for SMES is also described under the phrase “Gulliver’s principle”, which describes better their potentials as a sum and not just as units. Moreover, this paper is focusing on this business group significance for CSR policy making, due to the fact that SMEs are not little big business and because responsible entrepreneurship practices and policies (e.g. sustainable reporting) are closer to large corporations’ needs and experience. In Greece, the SMEs are an essential player for CSR and SD implementation; this is mainly pictured in the 1st draft paper for the national CSR strategy in 2014, and at the 2nd in 2017 as well. This paper is based on a qualitative research analysis, which combines theoretical investigation, archive research and literature review about policy for CSR and responsible entrepreneurship terminology in the EU and Greece. The method of literature reviewThe SMEs impact on economic growth, social and environmental sustainability in the EU and in Greece is significant, especially in sectors such as tourism or industry. Therefore, SMEs are an interesting focus group for CSR policy making in Greece, especially for issues, such as employment creation, innovation, and environmental sustainability.