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EU funding programmes

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EU funding programmes

EU funding opportunities for the social economy

Find funding that is suitable for you

In this section you will find information about EU funding programmes for the social economy. Click here for broader information about EU funding.

The information about EU funding programmes of particular relevance for the social economy that is featured here is based on the work of Euclid Network (EN) - The European Social Enterprise Network. Their European Funding Toolkit, co-financed by the European Commission, serves as the basis for the content presented in this section. EN also contributed to reviewing the adjustments made for this website. For a downloadable PDF providing in-depth guidance on EU funding applicable to the social economy, access EN's European Funding Toolkit here.

European Funding Toolkit (direct link)

Information about non-financial support will be added to the resources section of this website later this year.

Social Services helpdesk

Social economy organisations working in the field of social services may be interested in the Social Services Helpdesk.

More information about the helpdesk & links to resources

Direct link:

Social Services Helpdesk

How does EU funding work?

In general, EU funding is managed through three different approaches:

  • Shared management (around 70% of EU funding programmes): responsibility for running a given programme is shared jointly between the European Commission and national authorities in EU countries.
  • Direct management: EU funding is managed directly by EU institutions.
  • Indirect management (10% of the overall EU budget): the funding programmes are partly or fully implemented by third parties, such as national authorities or international organisations. Funding takes the form of subsidies, which you apply for at national level.

More information

Infographic about the budget available: Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 and Next Generation EU

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EU funding programmes (25)

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Showing results 10 to 20
ERDF

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) seeks to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU by correcting imbalances between its regions.

Information type
  • Funding Programme
Status
  • Open for application
Topics
  • Competitiveness
  • Digitalisation
  • Employment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Equality
  • Governance
  • Green transition
  • Inclusion
  • Job creation
  • Poverty reduction
  • Research
  • Sector specific skills
Location of entity/project to fund
  • All EU Member States
single market programme visuals

Are you interested in support for developing innovative and sustainable business practices to boost rural growth and competitiveness? This call may be interesting for you...

Information type
  • Call for proposals
Status
  • Closed for application
Topics
  • Circular economy
  • Competitiveness
  • Cross border cooperation
  • Green transition
  • Social Innovation
  • Sustainability
  • Territorial development
Location of entity/project to fund
  • Albania
  • All EU Member States
  • Liechtenstein
  • Moldova
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Iceland
  • Kosovo
  • Montenegro
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Serbia
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
ESF

The ESF+ focuses on employment, education, and skills as well as social inclusion.

Information type
  • Funding Programme
Status
  • Open for application
Topics
  • Digital skills
  • Digitalisation
  • Employment
  • Equality
  • Finance
  • Inclusion
  • Job creation
  • Poverty reduction
  • Sector specific skills
  • Skills
  • Social inclusion
  • Social Innovation
Location of entity/project to fund
  • All EU Member States
  • Iceland
  • Montenegro
  • Norway
  • Serbia
ESC

The European Solidarity Corps is an EU funding programme for young people wishing to engage in solidarity activities in a variety of areas.

Information type
  • Funding Programme
Status
  • Open for application
Topics
  • Cross border cooperation
  • Inclusion
  • Sector specific skills
  • Skills
Location of entity/project to fund
  • All EU Member States
  • Liechtenstein
  • Iceland
  • North Macedonia
  • Turkey
interreg

Interreg is one of the key instruments of the EU supporting cooperation across borders through project funding.

Information type
  • Funding Programme
Status
  • Open for application
Topics
  • Competitiveness
  • Cross border cooperation
  • Employment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Equality
  • Governance
  • Poverty reduction
  • Skills
  • Social inclusion
  • Social Innovation
  • Territorial development
Location of entity/project to fund
  • All EU Member States
  • Norway
  • Switzerland
EUI Visual

The European Urban Initiative is an essential tool to support cities of all sizes, to build capacity and knowledge, to support innovation and develop transferable and scalable innovative solutions to urban challenges of EU relevance.

Information type
  • Funding Programme
Topics
  • Circular economy
  • Digitalisation
  • Research
  • Social inclusion
  • Social Innovation
  • Sustainability
Location of entity/project to fund
  • All EU Member States
Puzzle call

€22 million for addressing societal challenges arising from the war against Ukraine. New deadline for submission: May 30, 2024.

Information type
  • Call for proposals
Status
  • Open for application
Topics
  • Cross border cooperation
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Finance
  • Inclusion
  • Job creation
  • Migration
  • Social inclusion
  • Social Innovation
Location of entity/project to fund
  • All EU Member States
global

The Global Europe: Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument is the principal financial tool of the EU’s international cooperation for the period of 2021-2027.

Information type
  • Funding Programme
Topics
  • Cross border cooperation
  • Culture
  • Employment
  • Governance
  • Migration
Location of entity/project to fund
  • All EU Member States
  • Third countries
horizon

Template for creating new funding pages

Information type
  • Funding Programme
Topics
  • Circular economy
  • Competitiveness
  • Digitalisation
  • Green transition
  • Research
  • Social Innovation
  • Sustainability
Location of entity/project to fund
  • Albania
  • All EU Member States
  • Armenia
  • Georgia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Moldova
  • Third countries
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Iceland
  • Kosovo
  • Montenegro
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Serbia
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
InvestEU

The InvestEU Programme supports sustainable and inclusive/social investments, innovation and job creation in Europe.

Information type
  • Funding Programme
Status
  • Open for application
Topics
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Finance
Location of entity/project to fund
  • All EU Member States
  • Iceland
  • Norway