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European social partners in the banking sector have agreed in November 2013 and signed on 31st January a joint statement on CSR. It revises the Joint Statement which had already been signed in 2005, taking into account the sector’s current challenges after the financial crisis. The social partners agreed that nine years after the first joint statement on CSR, it is now the moment to mark the sector’s endeavours by setting this revision. The undersigned are convinced that the statement will contribute to a dynamic boost in the European banking sector, focusing on the most precious: the workers and the employment. 
  
The Joint statement refers to ILO Global Dialogue Forum conclusions on the impact of the crisis on the financial sector workers which took place in Geneva in 2009 
  
The signatory parties (UNI Europa Finance, European Association of Co-operative Banks, European Banking Federation and the European Savings and Retail Banking Group) see the Joint Statement on CSR as a positive signal which they envisage to send also to bank sector social partners at national level. More specifically they point out that information and consultation in multinational enterprises can be important and helpful tools to find solutions in difficult situations, especially with regard to employment and support of the staff. 
  
The Joint Statement  especially focuses on the following core issues: 
  
Training, learning and development; Core labour standards; Work – life balance; Internal communication; and Equal opportunity. 
  
In the CSR joint statement, European social partners “recognise that the European social dialogue banking has an important role to play in order to strengthen attractiveness and confidence to help in the process of the growth of sustainable profitability and employment in the sector.” 

The CSR declaration is attached.