IMS Luxembourg

This month CSR Europe interviews Christian Scharff, executive director of IMS Luxembourg on the state of CSR among business in the Luxembourg area. The interview covers IMS Luxembourg's role in the promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility  with particular focus on the 2nd  Citizenship Forum: "Being eco-leader after the Copenhagen summit" organised by IMS Luxembourg for the 20th of April 2010. Mr. Scharff shares with CSR Europe the great success of the previous forum held in 2009, and  IMS Luxembroug expectations for the next one.

 

IMS Luxembourg can count, among its membership, a number of companies who are leaders in CSR. What is, in your opinion, the state of CSR among business in the Luxembourg area?

  

The notion of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is ever-increasing and spreading in the Luxembourg area. In fact, CSR has become such an essential part of the business world that prizes in various areas of CSR are being awarded to corporations every year.

An example of this is the "Prix Santé en Entreprise" ("Health in the Company Prize"). Out of the five winners of the 2008 edition, two were members of IMS Luxembourg (KBL European Private Bankers and the legal cabinet Allen&Overy Luxembourg).  In the 2009 edition, a total of nine prizes and certificates were awarded to corporations based in Luxembourg: six of these were members of IMS Luxembourg (BCEE, Caceis Bank&Fastnet Luxembourg, Ville de Luxembourg and Sodexo received the "Health in the Company Prize"; Dexia BIL and BGL BNP Paribas received an encouragement certificate).

This proves how many big companies reveal a genuine concern and activity in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility. In fact, within the Luxembourgish business world, CSR has become an almost necessary aspect in terms of corporate respectability, as it shows that the corporations are responsible and well aware in regard to social, economic or environmental issues.

 

Following its first Summit on CSR in May 2009, IMS Luxembourg has organised, for the 20th of April 2010, the 2nd great Citizenship Forum: "Being eco-leader after the Copenhagen summit. Acting-Sharing-Send". What are the expectations for this second event?

 

IMS Luxembourg would very much like to repeat and increase the success - in terms of the quality of its speakers, as well as of attendance - of last year's Citizenship Forum. Indeed, considering the constructive feedback received concerning the 2009 edition of the "Forum", as well as the hype and great interest regarding the 2010 edition, IMS Luxembourg hopes to welcome well over 600 attendees to this year's Citizenship Forum on the 20th April 2010 at Luxembourg Congrès on Kirchberg.

Also, in keeping with the key theme of this year's event, we are delighted to confirm the presence of three out of the four Luxembourgish students who attended the Copenhagen Summit. We anticipate a lively and interesting discussion and account of their experiences in Copenhagen, as well as their views on various social issues.

 

Furthermore, we anticipate that the high quality of our internationally renowned speakers, as well as the rich variety of panels in French and English, will appeal to a wider audience and attract people nationwide, as well as across the borders.

We hope that the attendees will leave the event with more concrete ideas and knowledge concerning CSR (as well as the initiatives and activities surrounding it) in Luxembourg and the Great Region. 

  

The event sees the participation of various representatives of the Public sector, such as Schools and Government institutions from the Great Region. How important is the collaboration between private and public sector in spreading CSR?

The sharing and exchanging of experiences and good practices between corporations (from both private and public sectors), is in fact the idea behind the Institute for Societal Movement in Luxembourg, which is essentially a network of almost one hundred corporations whose aim is to promote CSR nationwide, as well as in the Greater Region, and to share knowledge and practical experience in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility.

The public sector (governments, ministries, etc) is vital for the spreading of information regarding CSR. Indeed, the important impact of the public sector can reach the general public more effectively. It is thus crucial that private and public sector work hand in hand in order to promote CSR nationwide and beyond.

 

IMS Luxembourg has been nominated as partner by the Ministry of Family and Integration for the European Year against Poverty. What are the activities that your organisation, together with your members, have carried on or are planning to support this initiative?

 

IMS Luxembourg is currently planning various conferences and workshops focused around poverty and exclusion.

Last year, IMS Luxembourg conducted a survey on Diversity within the Corporation and the results were released earlier this year. There was also a workshop on the valorisation and sensitisation regarding diversity in the corporation, which took place in February 2010. 

There is also a conference on the integration of "senior persons" in corporations planned for November 2010.

These are just a few examples to show that IMS Luxembourg is concerned with social issues, which are perfectly in keeping with the ideas behind the European Year against Poverty, namely the supporting of the integration of minorities in corporations. 

 

For more information on IMS Luxembourg click here

 

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