About 180 representatives of some 130 civil society organisations, mostly from the southern Mediterranean region, met on December 2nd and 3rd with representatives of the European Union for the second Brussels Civil Society Forum. BUSINESSMED was invited to participate in the event to be the voice of the private sector in the area.

Good governance and rule of law, security and the fight against violence, migration, economic development and social dialogue, as well as climate and social justice were the five specific themes discussed with high-level European Union representatives. Gender, youth and non-discrimination issues were also mainstreamed in the discussions. 

For its part, BUSINESSMED took part in the discussion group dealing with the themes of economic and social development and social dialogue.

The role of youth was at the heart of the discussions. "Young people in the South and North of the Mediterranean have the right to take their place in this dialogue, in the same way that this youth is taking its rightful place by giving life and hope to the whole population in several countries on the southern shore, despite the repression and violence they suffered," said Wadih Al Asmar, President of Euromed Rights. "The youth of the southern Mediterranean are totally opposed to any request for interventionism. What they demand is that the EU objectively analyses the democratic, social and climatic impact of each of the decisions affecting the countries of the Southern shore."

Kamal Lahbib, on behalf of the consortium of organizing civil society organizations, concluded the forum on the wish to continue the Majalat process which with its territorial and social roots, can contribute to a 'security architecture' of peace, democracy and social justice in the region.