After conducting a detailed study on the existing situation in the field of CSR in Greece, the Region of Crete team came up with some interesting conclusions. Greece currently finds itself in an embryonic state with regards to CSR. Nonetheless, moves are made towards the right direction as indicate the development of the National Action Plan on CSR and the increasing number of sustainability reports produced in Greece. However, for CSR to be successfully implemented in Greece it is both vital and necessary to include SMEs in the process since they form the predominant form of enterprise within the national economy. It is evident that without them CSR in Greece will only have limited impact and reach. Therefore, the Greek State needs to promote CSR across the country and within the business world with particular focus on SMEs. In this process the help of experienced non-governmental actors like CSR Hellas and the Corporate Responsibility Institute among others will greatly aid the process.
Greek SMEs need to first and foremost understand the holistic nature of CSR as a management philosophy since on many occasions enterprises in Greece use the term CSR to simply refer to their charity work. In addition, CSR must be presented and promoted to SMEs across the country in a way which highlights the long-term advantages of CSR, pursuing them to follow its practices and principles. Last but not least, it is a key issue from the part of the state and the EU to expand initiatives like Road-CSR and allow funding to flow towards Greek SMEs, because the dire straits, in which the average Greek SME currently finds itself due to the ongoing economic crisis, are a limiting factor when it comes to the implementation of CSR.
