CSR PROGRESS AT EU-27 AND NATIONAL LEVEL: A PROSPECTIVE DEMATEL-ANALYSIS

CSR might be considered as driver for multiple changes in the current transformative context. Recent initiatives at EU-27 level aim to improve the regulatory-legislative framework and speed up large-scale adoption of CSR practices for businesses, irrespective of their size, and in particular in the SME sector. The paper aims to identify the main issues facing businesses in adopting improved CSR practices by assessing from a holistic perspective CSR potential at EU-27 and national level on short-, and medium term in relation to climate change challenges while uncertainty and risks are increasing from economic, social and political perspective. A mixed-method approach attempting to emphasize the role of economic, social, environmental factors based on secondary data extracted from Eurobarometer and SME surveys was used for substantiating and attributing DEMATEL scores for main indicators triggering cause-effect relationships relevant for sustainable and resilient CSR.