BUSINESSMED held on July 9, 2020, its first Board of Director meeting for the year 2020 in the presence of the majority of representatives of the Employers' Organisations of the Euro-Mediterranean Region.

Adapting to the current and exceptional situation caused by COVID-19, the meeting was held online and was an opportunity for the members of the Organisation to deal with some general and institutional issues and to address urgent questions related to the smooth running of the organisation’s action plan and the preparation of the next General Assembly.

The members of the Board of Directors also exchanged ideas for actions and proposals on the future orientations of the organisation for the coming years, namely:

• Greater participation and establishment of new sectoral and employers' committees;
• Direct access to business activities through the BCD platform and employers networking activities;
• Lobbying at regional but national level;
• The organization of an annual event specific to BUSINESSMED;
• Better synergies with trade unions on social dialogue initiatives.

Following the various exchanges, the committee members suggested that the organisation should focus more strongly in terms of actions and strategy on the sectors of digitalisation, education and vocational training, corporate social responsibility, culture as a vector for job creation, and triangular cooperation between Europe, the African continent and the Mediterranean region.

The next Board of Directors is expected to take place on September 8^th, 2020.