What is Corporate Social Responsibility? - InnoTrain CSR

Facts & figures about CSR
2.8. Insights into the CSR situation in Hungary
In short
In Hungary, the meaning of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has
increased considerably since the country joined the EU in 2004. This
development is due mainly to multinational enterprises which are increasingly
implementing CSR across the borders. With the growing demand for the
implementation of CSR into corporate policies, corporate values, procedures,
employee programmes and reporting in all subsidiaries, the profile of the
concept is growing in Hungary. However, the public awareness of CSR is less
developed to date. The dialogue and willingness to co-operate between
companies, civil society and national institutions require a greater increase in
trust and transparency. The main problem in Hungary is the prevailing opinion
that CSR is simply costly for companies and detrimental to corporate success.
Learning targets
� Be better able to gauge the background and developments of the CSR
situation in Hungary
CSR learning contents
According to a study conducted in 2008, as many as 60 % of the 100 top-selling
companies in Hungary are reporting on CSR and sustainability. However, the
majority still fails to take into account the economic aspects of sustainability. What's
more, only 6 % of examined reports are certified by an independent external
institution. Only every tenth report contains comments from external stakeholders of
the company.
Hungarian companies are traditionally reluctant when it comes to the exchange of
information with the public and legislator beyond the required scope. The only
common form of dialogue with interest groups these days are customer satisfaction
surveys. Therefore, CSR organisations in Hungary are asking companies to increase
the exchange, integration and cooperation with stakeholders from the society, media
and politics. Because the awareness about the role companies might be playing for
social goals is only developing in Hungary over time.
This is understandable in view of the social restructuring in the aftermath of the
political events of 1989. The economic transition from a state-directed economy
The project "InnoTrain CSR" is organized by GILDE GmbH and has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the
views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. 12/2010
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