Translation of "l'application des orientations " (French → English) :

41. Underlines strongly the importance of systematically assessing the implementation of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights, including the implementation of the EU Guidelines for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child, by using well-defined benchmarks; considers that, in order to ensure proper implementation of the Guidelines, further measures aimed at raising awareness of their content among EEAS and EU Delegation staff and Member State representations abroad must be taken; reiterates its call for civil society and human rights organisations to be mor ...[+++]e actively involved in the selection, development, evaluation and review of the Guidelines;

With respect to the comprehensive network, Member States should make all possible efforts with the aim of completing it and complying with the relevant provisions of the guidelines by 2050.

13. Recalls that CSR is a concept whereby companies voluntarily incorporate social and environmental concerns into their business strategy; notes that the implementation of CSR practices can rebuild trust in business, which is vital for Europe's social market economy; notes, however, that the heterogeneity of the concept of CSR, whereby different companies have developed different standards regarding social accounting, auditing and reporting, raises the issue of comparability; acknowledges the efforts made by the EU to apply more general guidelines for the definition and use of CRS; points out, however, that the diversity and heterogeneity of the concept still remain; urges the EU to take concrete ...[+++]action in international fora to move CSR away from a purely voluntary approach and to identify clear legal obligations on corporations as regards human rights and CLS, along with effective ways to hold them accountable in the event of breaches; considers for instance that, when Member States are asked by multinational companies for investment guarantees, they should bind those guarantees to the implementation of the official CSR guidelines;

to cater better for the distinctive characteristics of SMEs and the specific difficulties they face, by pressing on with implementation of the Small Business Act, dealing with shortcomings in the application of the guidelines adopted and implementing appropriate specific measures such as reducing the administrative burden (as well as other aspects of regulatory burden, e.g. compliance costs) and consistently applying the ‘SME Test’ so that sufficient ...[+++] progress is finally made for Europe's SMEs,

Voluntary guidelines for good practice for storage system operators (GPSSO) were agreed in 2004 but the findings of the ERGEG final 2006 report on monitoring the implementation of the guidelines[29] showed a rather disappointing picture in terms of compliance.

As regards the dissemination and the application of the agreed orientations, together with other instruments and actions, social dialogue at different levels will undoubtedly be asked to play a useful role in developing and applying those principles throughout the EU.