The fiscal responsibility of companies is too often obscured

What is it to ask a speed regulator and change the brake pads on a vehicle which is not flange engine By accelerating too abruptly, the risk of accident remains important, especially if there is no pilot! This is yet decided the g-20 London completely ignoring one of the essential actors of capitalism: international companies.

They have a disproportionate role: recall simply that the turnover of the ten largest companies in the world weighs more than the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Brazil and the India together. With this power, the southern States who are obviously not free from any liability can hardly impose their own rules. The list is long of the transgressions of the right to work, the ecological disasters and the tax losses in these countries.

The approach of the European elections of June 7, the CCFD-Terre solidaire and Oxfam France agir here facing the European Union on its role in regulation of businesses. Objective: make them really responsible for their social, environmental and fiscal impacts in poor countries. We call to the France and the candidates to the European Parliament to control and transparency proposals which will put European companies on equal terms "CSR F" (social, environmental and business tax liability). The "F" is essential, because tax fraud of international companies costs each year more than 125 billion euros to the countries of the South. We propose to empower the parent companies for the activities of their subsidiaries, subcontractors and suppliers, which they have a notable influence. We ask that extend to the whole of Europe the duty for each company, to publish a report on its social and environmental impacts, and accountability on the profits and taxes in each country where they operate. Finally, we suggest the creation of a European register identifying the beneficial owners of each legal entity.

The European Union must set an example for international regulation. It has the means to impose common rules because most international companies operate on its soil. The FP4 of enterprises can be so appreciated by an audience attentive, consisting of investors, consumers and employees.

Corporate social responsibility has become a key theme in listed companies. A recent study (1) underlines the fact that a "good CSR management is seen as a means of ensuring the sustainability of the company in the long term." The benefits in terms of image, prevention of risk and investment are no longer to show. But the effects on the countries of the South have been slow to be felt. Too little is done on freedom of Association, wages or working hours. The fiscal responsibility of companies is too often obscured. Multinational companies recognize themselves their schizophrenia.

This new responsibility is necessarily Cross and cannot be based on self-regulation by enterprises. A real public regulation will increase the social utility of business and create wealth without destroy elsewhere. The out of the crisis through a sustainable economy, placing the man and his environment at the centre of entrepreneurial strategies. In the heart of this approach, the European Union has a critical driver.