INTEGRATING EUROPEAN SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY VALUES INTO CORPORATE MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY

Abstract

The increasing volatility of global economic systems, geopolitical instability, climate-related risks and technological transformation have significantly intensified the uncertainty within which corporations operate. Under such conditions, traditional shareholder-oriented management models reveal structural limitations in ensuring long-term stability and resilience. This study argues that the integration of European corporate social responsibility (CSR) values into corporate management constitutes a strategic response to systemic uncertainty and a necessary condition for sustainable development. The purpose of the article is to systematize the theoretical foundations of European CSR values and to identify the structural components of corporate management that enable their effective integration. The research is based on an interdisciplinary synthesis of stakeholder theory, sustainable development theory, institutional theory, and the resource-based view of the firm. Methods of theoretical generalization and structural analysis are applied to construct an integrated framework of value-based corporate governance. The findings demonstrate that the European CSR paradigm represents a multidimensional governance model grounded in stakeholder inclusiveness, environmental stewardship, transparency, accountability, and long-term value creation. Unlike shareholder-centric approaches, the European model treats corporate responsibility as an embedded institutional obligation integrated into strategic planning, risk management, governance architecture, organizational culture, and performance measurement systems. Key structural components facilitating CSR integration include boardlevel oversight, sustainability-oriented strategic management, ESG-based risk management, stakeholder engagement within network governance structures, and transparent reporting mechanisms. Their coherent interaction strengthens corporate legitimacy, reduces systemic risks, and enhances adaptive capacity under volatile conditions. The study concludes that embedding European CSR values into corporate management systems represents a structural transformation that reinforces sustainable development and redefines corporate governance as a resilience-oriented and socially embedded economic institution.