Integration of social responsibility in Lithuanian banks’ sustainability reports under the EU taxonomy framework

Abstract

In recent years, the EU Taxonomy has become a pivotal regulatory framework, aiming to direct financial flows towards environmentally and socially sustainable activities. This paper examines how Lithuanian banks integrate the social responsibility (S) dimension within the EU Taxonomy framework, focusing on disclosures in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or Sustainability reports. Using qualitative content analysis, the study reviews the 2023 reports of Artea, Citadele and Swedbank to evaluate the clarity and depth of social disclosures and their explicit links to EU Taxonomy requirements. Findings reveal that although banks acknowledge the significance of aligning with EU sustainability principles, the social dimension remains underdeveloped in Taxonomy-related sections. These results highlight the importance of systematically integrating social and environmental dimensions and ensuring that social responsibility data is both quantitative and verifiable. The study concludes that while there is progress in social responsibility reporting in Lithuanian banks, further efforts are needed to align fully with EU Taxonomy standards and enhance data-driven reporting practices. The paper contributes to ongoing discussions on strengthening CSR practices in the Lithuanian banking sector, highlighting current challenges and opportunities for improvement.