Europe's Electricity Companies and Corporate Social Responsibility

European Works Councils - Poorly Informed and Consulted

BRUSSELS, June 9, 2010 - This new report looks at the European electricity companies, CSR policies
and involvement of the European Works Councils (EWCs).

    - All major European energy companies included - e.g EDF,
      ENEL, EON, Fortum, GdFSuez, Iberdrola, RWE, Vattenfall, Veolia. Some
      Operate across the world: US, Latin America and Australia

    - The companies represent a million workers and generate half
      a trillion euros in revenues.

    - Of the companies that do have CSR policies only a limited
      number endorse all international standards considered. Many do not
      report according to global standards.

    - The results of a survey of European Works Council
      representatives are included. They are poorly informed and consulted.
      There is a gap between formal polices and proper implementation.

    - The report ends with recommendations for EWC representatives
      and trade unions.

EPSU's Jan Willem Goudriaan: "Not all companies provide
transparency. A more binding European framework or legislation on disclosure
of information on environmental, social and governance issues is needed. The
report shows that this is not a problem for most companies but a small
minority does not play by the rules."

EPSU, Europe's umbrella union federation for energy urges the
electricity industry to respect international standards.

SOMO's Joseph Wilde-Ramsing "While it is positive that many
companies have a formal CSR policy, the research shows that workers as a key
stakeholder are not involved. Without a key role and resources for the
workers, CSR policies risk being empty of content."

Richard Howitt MEP, the European Parliament Rapporteur on
Corporate Social Responsibility said: "Reporting clearly on the environmental
social and governance standards of a company is not just about public
relations or window dressing but must be part of an integrated process which
keeps workers thoroughly involved through European Works Councils on the
values, performance and ethical standards of the company. The message of this
report for the energy sector is clear, you need to step up your game and
fully recognise that CSR is not just done by management but is done by a
coalition of management, worker and stakeholders in unison."

The report can be found at: EPSU: www.epsu.org/a/6581

SOMO: somo.nl/news-en/csr-and-european-works-councils/

Media contacts: EPSU: Jan Willem Goudriaan +32-2-2501080 or epsu@epsu.org

SOMO: Leontien Aarnoudse, +31-20-6391291; info@somo.nl

Media contacts: EPSU: Jan Willem Goudriaan +32-2-2501080 or epsu at epsu.org; SOMO: Leontien Aarnoudse, +31-20-6391291; info at somo.nl