First ‘EU MED means business’ event: Young entrepreneurs from Southern Neighbourhood gather in Brussels to shape EU policy to boost growth and jobs

On 21 and 22 May, 150 young entrepreneurs, economic leaders and change-makers from the Arab countries in Europe’s Southern Neighbourhood will gather in Brussels and the region to discuss ways to overcome barriers to higher economic growth and job creation in the region.

Coming together at the first ‘EU MED means business’ conference, hosted by the European Commission, participants will identify concrete priority actions regarding investment, entrepreneurship and job creation for policy makers across the region and in the EU.

The two-day conference will focus on how to:

• Attract more foreign and domestic investment as well as access to finance;
• Unleash the potential of the private sector, and in particular of smaller enterprises, which create the most sustainable new jobs;
• Boost talent and skills of young people and promote entrepreneurship and innovation to reduce the high levels of youth unemployment.

During a concluding plenary session on the second day, participants will vote on twelve top priorities for action. These priorities will feed into policies and cooperation with the countries across the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and in the EU, as the European Commission will be preparing for its next mandate.

In Tunis, Cairo, Irdib (Jordan) and Rabat, parallel events will take place that are connected to the conference in Brussels.

More information:

• The “EUMED means business” website
• Factsheet on EU cooperation with the South on investment, business and economic development
• Videos:
  • Sima Najjar, a young entrepreneur, explaining the business needs of Jordanian designers.
  • Yahya Bouhlel, a Tunisian CEO, highlighting the importance of bridging the digital skills of young people with the needs of businesses around the world.
  • Amina Mourid, a cultural entrepreneur, showing what art and culture can do to stimulate the economy in Morocco.