What is WEN?
The Work & Economy Research Network in the European Churches (WEN) is a project of ECG,which brings together researchers in theology, economics and social sciences as well as policy makers and practitioners from the churches and civil society. It is engaged with the dynamic relationship between faith, economy and work. The aims of the network are:

• Research on economic and social change at local, national and international levels, identifying issues from the perspective of marginalised people and communities

• Theological reflection in the context of changing economic and political realities

• Production and dissemination of publications on relevant issues

• Mutual learning in order to strengthen the action of the churches at all levels, especially in relation to the European institutions

•  Development of a European network to support the exchange of experience and analysis

Main projects of WEN:

• Workshop on Churches, Civil Society, Multinational Companies and Corporate Responsibility in Central and Eastern Europe

This workshop was a direct follow up to the WEN-EAP consultation Facing Up To Globalisation (Èelákovice, CZ, February/March 2005 - see below) and took forward the work of the group on multinational corporations. The proposal was developed by the three partner organisations - Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (UK) Project Leader in collaboration with ECG/WEN and the Ecumenical Academy, Prague and submitted to the European Commission DG Employment.

The workshop was organised to address the growth if investment by large multinational companies, which have become major players in the CEE region. Their activities have very significant impacts on employment and working conditions, food retailing and the supply of essential services such as water and energy. They also affect social welfare and the environment. Therefore it is important that churches, faith communities and civil society develop ways to engage with and influence them.

The workshop heard case studies of the impact of companies and efforts to engage with them from within the CEE region and beyond. The different strategies discussed included:

• Socially responsible investment

• Researching and engaging, lobbying and campaigning

• Investment in local economies by alternative financial institutions such as Oikocredit

It was also following up ECCR's ongoing work on corporate responsibility with the churches and civil society. To strengthen this work, ECCR has developed the Bench Marks for Measuring Business Performance with its international partners (www.bench-marks.org). The workshop explored ways of using of the Bench Marks approach in the CEE region.

If you want to read more about the workshop, download the final report and other presentations, click on Corporate Responsibility.

• Alternatives to Competitive Globalisation

The network has a special focus on the issues of economy and work in central and eastern Europe.
It is working closely with the WCC, CEC, the EAC of WARC and other ecumenical partners. This is one main element in WEN's work on the theme of the impacts of globalisation. The network organised its major consultation in February 2005 on the theme ‘Facing Up To Globalisation – Visons - Alternatives - Strategies ’  in Celakovice in the Czech Republic.