New Publications
Up one levelEU Investment Agreements in the Lisbon Treaty Era: A Reader
This publication comes at a crucial time. The Lisbon Treaty has given the European Commission added clout; it can now negotiate trade and investment treaties by itself, on behalf of all 27 members States. Thanks to Lisbon, an already undemocratic Europe has become even less so and is using its broad mandate to inflict as yet untold damage on the rest of the world through a series of apparently technical trade and investment treaties to pry open the markets of poorer, more vulnerable countries.
ING - Overview of controversial business practices in 2009
This brief company profile is a joint initiative of SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations) and the VBDO (Vereniging van Beleggers voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling). It provides an overview of business practices that may be considered unsustainable, irresponsible, or controversial and that took place or were addressed in 2009.
Social Dialogue at Philips Lighting
Assigned by FNV Bondgenoten, SOMO conducted a research into the current state of the socialdialogue at Philips Lighting, on the basis of questionnaires and interviews with members of a local Workers’ Council, national trade unions and representatives of the European Workers’ Council. Their experiences with the social dialogue at Philips Lighting are described in this report, followed by recommendations for improvement.
Heineken - Overview of controversial business practices in 2009
This brief company profile is a joint initiative of SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations) and the VBDO (Vereniging van Beleggers voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling). It provides an overview of business practices that may be considered unsustainable, irresponsible, or controversial and that took place or were addressed in 2009.
European Works Councils and Corporate Social Responsibility in the European Energy Sector
The (potential) role of the EWC in developing and implementing CSR is central to this study. The main goal is to provide some insight into the existing role and ambition of EWCs with regard to CSR and to offer recommendations on how EWCs and trade unions can influence a company’s CSR policy and practice. Information for the study was gathered through a survey of and interviews with EWC members and other worker representatives as well as input from representatives of the management of European energy companies.
10 Years On
In this report OECD Watch has monitored the implementation and effectiveness of the OECD Guidelines over the past ten years and made an analysis of cases filed by NGOs against corporations alleging violations of the OECD Guidelines.
Report of the FES Parallel Event to the 14th session of the Human Rights Council
Report of The FES Parallel Event to the 14th session of the Human Rights Council
Handel en Maatschappelijk Verantwoord Ondernemen
In 2010, SOMO published a series of memos which focus on the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and trade. The first publication in the serie examines CSR aspects of trade missions. The Dutch government sees CSR as an 'export article', and its ambition is to integrate CSR into all government activities to promote trade, with specific attention to trade missions.
Reset - Chinese version
This publication provides an overview of CSR issues that are relevant for the global electronics sector. It is a joint initiative by the Dutch CSR Platform (MVO Platform) and GoodElectronics. The publication is based on the 2007 CSR Frame of Reference published by the CSR Platform which reflects the Platform’s vision on corporate social responsibility.
Royal Dutch Shell - Overview of controversial business practices in 2009
This brief company profile is a joint initiative of SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations) and the VBDO (Vereniging van Beleggers voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling). It provides an overview of business practices that may be considered unsustainable, irresponsible, or controversial and that took place or were addressed in 2009.
Fugro - Overview of controversial business practices in 2009
This brief company profile is a joint initiative of SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations) and the VBDO (Vereniging van Beleggers voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling). It provides an overview of business practices that may be considered unsustainable, irresponsible, or controversial and that took place or were addressed in 2009.
Unilever - Overview of controversial business practices in 2009
This brief company profile is a joint initiative of SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations) and the VBDO (Vereniging van Beleggers voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling). It provides an overview of business practices that may be considered unsustainable, irresponsible, or controversial and that took place or were addressed in 2009.
SBM Offshore - Overview of controversial business practices in 2009
This brief company profile is a joint initiative of SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations) and the VBDO (Vereniging van Beleggers voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling). It provides an overview of business practices that may be considered unsustainable, irresponsible, or controversial and that took place or were addressed in 2009.
Aegon - Overview of controversial business practices in 2009
This brief company profile is a joint initiative of SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations) and the VBDO (Vereniging van Beleggers voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling). It provides an overview of business practices that may be considered unsustainable, irresponsible, or controversial and that took place or were addressed in 2009.
Financing Food
Financing Food focuses on how derivative markets work and on speculation in food and agricultural products. This study demonstrates how the futures market for agricultural products, in particular, has changed and is being disrupted by new speculators, growing index funds and commodities funds. This can have an influence on food prices, which can rise as a result, making food too expensive for the poor inhabitants of developing countries.
