Officially launched in November 2004 with support from the European Commission, the European SRI Transparency Guidelines aim to create more clarity on the principles and processes of SRI mutual funds. This is to help consumers (investors) make more informed choices, to encourage best practice among fund managers, as well as to pre-empt legislation on SRI mutual funds that would not integrate the view of practitioners.

Eurosif is leading this multi-stakeholder process and will continue to develop and improve voluntary guidelines that the financial sector can use to better reflect their approach to SRI fund management.

As of April 2008, there were about 50 signatories, representing more than 140 SRI funds. Interest for the Transparency Guidelines keeps on growing and as a further step in their implementation, Eurosif wishes to improve the responding process and visibility of the Transparency Guidelines and the funds’ responses.

Towards this objective, Eurosif has created a logo specific to the Transparency Guidelines which can be used by signatories once their responses to the Guidelines have been updated and reviewed by their national Social Investment Forum. Read press release (May 23, 2008).