The CSR and Sustainable Development policy which the Group has been implementing over the past decade is based on specific priorities, such as the following:

• Adopting and promoting best practices throughout the Group’s sphere of influence
• Cooperating with stakeholders and promoting a broader business and social movement for CSR and Sustainable Development
• Enhancing transparency, focusing on honest, direct and open dialogue, reliable information on significant and meaningful issues and seeking consensus and generally accepted solutions
• Investing resources (financial and human) in initiatives and projects aimed at the reduction of environmental footprint and incease value created for stakeholders

In this context we have encouraged the development of CSR structures at local and regional levels which support the participation of Group subsidiaries in local networks and joint efforts while at the same time facilitate the implementation and communication of local action plans.

The Group’s new infrastructures, systems and methods serve to boost its overall long-term competitiveness and make it possible for the Group to be acknowledged as “best in class” in certain sectors compared to its peers.