1999 Helsinky – European Council invites the European Commission to prepare a proposal for a long term strategy that involves economic, social and ecologic politics and a sustainable development, to be presented to the European Council in 2001;

2000 Lisbon – The European Council defines a ten year strategy with the goal to make UE the World most dynamic and competitive region by 2010. In this strategy, for the first time, the necessity of developing a strong economy with the creation of environmental and social politics it’s clear, assuring a sustainable development and social inclusion;

2001 Gothemburg – The European Council agrees on a strategy for a sustainable development that ‘’completes the political UE commitment towards economic and social questions, adding a third dimension- environmental dimension, to Lisbon’s strategy. The members are invited to define their own national strategy for a sustainable development;
-Publication of the ‘’Sustainable Europe for a Better World: a European Union Strategy for a Sustainable Development’’ document. -Publication of the ‘’Green Book: Promoting a European Framework for Corporate Social Responsibility’’

2002 European Commission communication: ‘’ Corporate Social Responsibility: a business contribution to a sustainable development’’
- European Multistakeholder Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (it was created in order to be a platform to converge practices and instruments of CSR

2004 Publication of the Enviromental Liability Directive (LINK)(renewed) Commission launch a campaign of CSR divulgation in SME’s .

2005 Commission Communications
- "The 2005 Review of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy: Initial Stocktaking and Future Orientations"
- "Draft Declaration on Guiding Principles for Sustainable Development"
- "On the review of the Sustainable Development Strategy - A platform for action"

Publication of a Handbook for the Peer Review of National Sustainable development Strategies  

2006 A European alliance for CSR publication, where its obvious the importance of the private sector towards sustainability;

Eurostat 2007 monitoring report
First Progress Report (October 2007) + staffworking paper

 

To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs (Brundtland Commission, 1987)