First SME Round Table of the CSR Multi Stakeholder Forum 

Following the same structure as thefirst "knowledge" Round Table, general presentations opened the first SME meeting. Next, three groups shared their experience with the audience. Triselec Lille, an SME whose area of activity is waste recycling, demonstrated its environmentally friendly way of operation, successful collaboration with regional organisations, and also presented a website it has set up to teach people about recycling waste. Another speaker from COOP Italia, a large Italian network of cooperatives, explained that it implements the SA 8000 standard and has good cooperation with its SME suppliers. (SA 8000 is a universal code of practice for labour conditions in the manufacturing industry, which aims to raise consumer confidence in developed countries.) The last group of speakers, representatives of Cocomat, a Greek medium-sized company that manufactures mattresses and furniture out of natural fibres, showed how it integrates disabled employees, whom they refer to as "people with special skills", in its operation.

As the last agenda point, participants drew conclusions from the meeting. It was generally agreed that SME activities needed to be understood better. In particular, the incentives of SMEs to engage in socially responsible business practices should be identified. Some participants had little understanding of the way SMEs operated so they were given the task of familiarising themselves with at least one such enterprise. Prior to the next meeting, case studies will also be collected to better inform the Forum participants about SME activities.