Company giving in Europe: What are the policy issues for the European Commission?

Over the past two years, a loosely-formed group known as the Company Giving in Europe Initiative has been examining the prospects for corporate social responsibility in the increasingly competitive marketplace of the European Community post 1992. As firms capitalise upon the EC's unerring commitment to remove the fiscal, technical and physical barriers to intra-Community trade, many observers are confident that progressive companies will extend their charitable giving programmes in order to mirror their commercial aspirations. A recent study commissioned by members of the Initiative argues that opportunities for increased corporate social responsibility are a consequence of changed political circumstances as much as of improved market conditions (Dabson, 1991). This paper explores this premise and argues that there are still certain changes of policy which the EC institutions could make to maximise the potential of corporate giving.