The 27 June 2007 conference on Coprorate Social Responsibility brought to a close the research project “Rhetoric and Realities: Analysing Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe” (RARE). The three year research study examined whether Corporate Social Responsibility can lead to genuine impacts on society and the environment or whether CSR is merely rhetorical presentation. It was funded by the European Union carried out by a consortium of seven European research institutes which examined four CSR issues across three business sectors. The findings of the RARE project were presented at the conference by researchers and were discussed by experts and practitioners of CSR.

The main themes of the conference were:

• What CSR sustainability impacts can be found in selected business sectors: banking, oil and fisheries?
• To what extent does CSR contribute to achieving current EU sustainability goals, especially with regard to the mitigation of climate change, chemicals policy, sustainable fisheries, gender equality and countering bribery?
• What are the limits of the contribution of CSR to sustainability? What factors foster or hamper the creation of CSR impacts?
• What are the consequences and recommendations for further development of the EU’s CSR policy and research? 

 The presentations from the conference are now available at http://www.rare-eu.net/index.php?id=7. Additionally, you will find further information and results of the empirical work as well as the RARE brochure at http://www.rare-eu.net/index.php?id=4.