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Supported by Erasmus + Programme

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Open Digital Europe

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Out of the Box International develops a tailor made open data model and policies based on open digital environment which is transparent, accountable and secured.

Social Businesses

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Out of the Box International works with already existing hubs, various local and national stakeholders and social entrepreneurs in order to further develop and promote successful social entrepreneurship policies and practices.

Solidarity Europe

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Out of the Box International delivers expertise in the field of cohesive policies by using cross-sectorial approach and non-formal  education, in a global perspective.

European Project

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Out of the Box International  works further to enhance current cooperation in South East Europe region and actively supports the integration of all European countries in common European project.

ESF+ funding shift

July 17, 2025

ESF+ funding to focus on defence, decarbonisation and support for frontline regions

On the 15th of July 2025, Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional agreement on changes to the European Social Fund+ to boost skills in the defence and decarbonisation industries.

The co-legislators agreed to support EU countries using ESF+ funding for skills development in the defence sector and decarbonising industries. Regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine will also receive additional support, highlighting their special needs in a tense geopolitical environment.

When amending their existing programmes, EU countries will have to include obligations to ensure that beneficiaries respect certain working and employment conditions. The new law ensures that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises will have priority access to the fund to help them develop skills under the new priorities. The agreement also includes language on rule of law conditionality, ensuring that funds frozen because of breaches of EU values cannot be reallocated until the conditions are fulfilled.

MEPs highlighted that this agreement ensures that support remains with smaller organisations and with training that strengthens people and society.

Both the Parliament and the Council need to adopt the provisional agreement formally before the rules can enter into force. In parallel, the Committee on Regional Affairs is discussing similar proposals in the context of the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the Just Transition Fund.

 

Read the full press release: European Parliament Newsroom

Why Out of the Box International

The seemingly ever-lasting depression of European economies has shaken the very foundations of many European societies. The shear rate of unemployment in Europe and the omnipresent environmental crisis coupled with the often frustratingly slow process of decision making in the EU, are calling for civil society actors to step in and fill the void.

In the aftermath of the 2008. economic crisis, the apprehension of falling under the spell of apathy of economic depression across the continent has not been easy to shake off. However, pinpointing the culprits for the current state of affairs on any particular EU decision maker is not the answer. Nonetheless, the fact remains that the current approach to the economic and environmental crisis hasn’t yet shown the affected citizens the light at the end of the tunnel.

As representatives of the civil society we feel the need to make our voice heard in the midst of the current debate on economic crisis. Being a social enterprise we offer new and feasible ideas in education and community work, creative cross-sectorial cooperation among different actors and strong networking coalitions to turn these dire economic challenges into possibilities through social entrepreneurship initiatives which aim at benefiting wide range of citizens, particularly vulnerable groups and those affected by the economic crisis.

Social entrepreneurship is a simple concept that has been put into practice by civil society actors for the benefit of a specific social group or people, and this is precisely what we want: to create projects and initiatives with fresh ideas in different policies, educational programs or tools, support businesses, empower cultural initiatives and offer different solutions to individuals, corporate bodies, everybody who believe that we can have more Creative, Innovative and Cohesive Europe.

 

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