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Interview with Marko Paunovic – UBC Brussels Antenna
Since 2020, the UBC Representation Office “Antenna” in Brussels has been hosted by Out of the Box International (OTB). We talked to the head of UBC Antenna Marko Paunovic and asked him about his work.
Could you introduce yourself briefly?
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I am consultant, moderator and social entrepreneur with experience in the field of education, fundraising, organizational and project management. In recent years I have been lobbying the European institutions and following closely Cohesive, Enlargement, Social Entrepreneurship, Internet and Youth policies of the EU. I am the founder and CEO of Out of the Box International, an international network based in Brussels dealing with social innovations and Head of UBC Antenna in Brussels.
What is the UBC Antenna?
The UBC Representation Office in Brussels is hosted by Out of the Box International (OTB). The partnership between UBC and OTB offers the opportunity for more effective advocacy and lobbying of the UBC cities’ interests, increasing the visibility of UBC among European institutions, thus influencing EU policies, which impact local member cities’ authorities in the long term.
What are the plans for the development of the UBC Antenna and UBC’s presence in Brussels and EU institutions?
During the initial year, we have: • Scanned and analysed UBC needs and key EU stakeholders • Established and promoted Brussels Antenna within UBC structures by Irene Pendolin| irene.pendolin@ubc.net • Facilitated Task Force for Policy and Projects • Kicked off the activities in the EU arena • Assisted in winning two grants for Gdansk office
In 2021, we will focus on: • Finalising policy papers as a base for advocacy and lobby work • Organizing events and meeting in Brussels in order to increase the UBC visibility • Assisting in partnership building for the EU projects
Your message to the UBC Commissions and member cities?
UBC is a leading network of cities in the Baltic Region with huge potential and expertise. Let’s make it more visible and heard.
