The Policy Working Group comprises of policy makers from relevant government ministries, specialised national agencies, representatives from the social partners, and civil society organisations. It will guide the programme on national level and provide a space for social dialogue and collaboration. Opening remarks were provided by H.E. Mr. Nayef Zakariya Stetieh (Minister of Labor), Mr. Peter Rademaker (ILO Deputy Regional Director for the Arab States), and Mrs. Ilektra Tsakalidou, (Programme Officer, DG NEAR). The first task of the group will be to derive consensus on a priority sector for the programmes’ forthcoming value chain analysis. The ILO presented evidence of sectors with opportunity to both export and create decent jobs in line with policy priorities.

METI is four year regional programme implemented by the International Labour Organization. It aims to enable policy makers in the EU Southern Neighbourhood region to incorporate an employment perspective into trade and investment policies. This will support the design and implementation of investment strategies that optimise the quantity and quality of employment creation in the region.