» EBEN-Annual Conference 2014

Business Ethics in a European Perspective. A Case for Unity in Diversity?, 12th until 14th of June 2014 in Berlin, Germany 

The German Network for Business Ethics (DNWE) was organising the annual conference for its European umbrella organisation (The European Business Ethics Network – EBEN). The conference took place in Berlin from 12-14 June 2014; at the same time the DNWE holt its annual meeting. Cooperation partner and venue of the event is ESMT European School of Management and Technology, located in the former headquarters of State Council of the GDR at Schlossplatz 1.

EBEN and its annual conference brought together academics from almost all European countries and also from beyond Europe. With its annual meetings the DNWE addressed practitioners from companies, associations, NGOs, political institutions and from the media. We welcomed participants from all continents, among them decision makers from the world of business, as well as multipliers from science and teaching.

At a time when the European project is facing big challenges, the EBEN Annual Conference 2014  put questions related to economy and business ethics in a European perspective.

The economy has been the central driving force in the successful legal and economic EU integration process. What role should companies and other players take in further strengthening the cultural, social and economic integration process – if this is really desirable? What is Europe’s part in the creation of global standards in business and culture? Does a “Cultural Europe” already exist, one that influences approaches and action of European stakeholders on the world stage more than they are aware?

The question of unity and historically influenced diversity, natural in politics, has not yet been integrated in a total concept in the field of business ethics. Many questions are being discussed with no regard to the European dimension, focusing either only on the regional and national economy or on global economic relations. The EBEN Annual Conference emphasized European topics, taking into account that the conference will be held directly following the election of the European Parliament.

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