The EU-funded MED MSMEs stocktaking seminar took place last week in the presence of representatives from the European Commission, European Union Delegations in partner countries, UfM representatives, Small Business Act Coordinators and representatives of the private and public sector from all countries. The objective of the seminar was to provide insights into the implementation of activities and share thoughts and ideas to orient the development of the Programme’s 2021 action plan.

The various contributions of participants further explored and confirmed the Programme’s main findings throughout the past year, notably the importance of digital and green transformation, internationalisation and alternative / innovative financing of MSMEs. Participants shared their experience of policy and regulatory responses to support MSMEs in 2020, a year that was marked by unprecedented challenges raised by the pandemic.

Suggestions were also put forward for 2021, such as potentially expanding the Programme’s geographic outreach to Africa, ensuring women inclusion and gender equality, considering blended finance or extra guarantees targeting the most underserved segments of the MSMEs population.

In the following weeks, the Programme will further develop its work plan for 2021 by integrating those inputs gathered during the seminar, in view of maximizing the impact at national level of the regional Programme interventions.

In line with the elaboration of policies for inclusive growth in the EU Southern Neighbourhood, the EU-funded MED MSMEs Programme (2018-2022) builds on a national participatory approach, international best practices and regional initiatives to foster the formulation and implementation of integrated policies and instruments supporting the development of MSMEs.

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