Project in brief

The general objective of MedBEESinessHubs is to support the economies of deprived rural communities in the Mediterranean regions of Cyprus, Egypt, Italy Lebanon and Palestine.

Through coaching and capacity building in technical and business-oriented subjects, as well as through the provision of sub-grants, this project will attempt to provide new jobs through the setting up of micro-SMEs, bee-businesses, that can create value from honeybee products by adding their individual art of craft and design. MedBEESinessHubs will assist them in teaming up with local authorities in order to turn their region into a honeybee comb, made up of a cluster of microSMEs in the honey-BEESiness in each region while building sustainable tourism destinations in that process.

The project will then enable them to establish their beehive, the MedBEESinessHubs, where cross pollination will begin, and cross-border cooperation will be achieved among regional stakeholders and microSMEs in the honeybee handicraft clusters.

And of course, throughout this attempt, the MedBEESinessHubs project will help the endangered honeybee survive and continue giving food and life on earth.

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Project in brief

The SMEs4SD project, led by SMEunited, is focused on enhancing the role and participation of SME employer organisations in social dialogue and policy-making processes at both national and EU levels. Its core aim is to strengthen the involvement of these organisations in social dialogue and the European Semester, ensuring that the voice of SMEs is adequately represented. The project includes monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Council Recommendation on strengthening social dialogue, which is essential for improving SME representation in policy discussions. In response to the twin transition towards a digital and climate-neutral economy, the project also aims to improve the preparedness of SME employer organisations for upcoming legislative and non-legislative initiatives, as well as collective bargaining related to social and employment issues. It encourages more active participation in EU consultations and decision-making processes, particularly concerning the digitalisation of work and the green transition.

Additionally, SMEs4SD supports SMEs in understanding and implementing existing EU labour laws and tracks social dialogue developments in Member States through the SME Observatory for Employment and Social Policy. Project partners will report the implementation and impact of these initiatives to EU Institutions to inform future policy. Overall, the project seeks to build capacity within SME organisations, improve their understanding of EU social and employment policies, and ensure SMEs are well-equipped to contribute meaningfully to social dialogue and adapt to future challenges.

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) plays a pivotal role in the SMEs4SD project, contributing its extensive experience and network to enhance the involvement of SME employer organisations in social dialogue and policy-making processes. As a key partner, CCCI actively participates in capacity-building initiatives, providing training and resources to empower SMEs in understanding and engaging with EU social and employment policies.

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