While German companies are subject to close regulation, local activists say there is scope for more corporate responsibility rules, if a lack of enthusiasm from companies
Formalised corporate responsibility is still relatively new in Germany. The federal government set up a multistakeholder forum in 2009 to build a national corporate responsibility strategy. This forum adopted a voluntary “common understanding”, and the government published at the end of 2010 an action plan to promote corporate responsibility in Germany and abroad. This included a number of measures to raise awareness among domestic small and medium-sized enterprises.