1 Information and communication rules for EU Cohesion policy INFORM meeting, 7-8 December 2011 Directorate General for Regional Policy, Communication Unit

2 Current regulation as a basis Same logic as now: – explain objectives (public/potential beneficiaries/transparency) – & responsibilities (MS, managing authorities, beneficiaries) Same key ingredients: launch event, annual information activity, billboards,… Main changes related to a small number of clarification needs: – Communication strategy – Clearer expectations – Clear rules for the list of projects/beneficiaries – Recognition of current good practices (web, national information officer, information kits, communication already at stage of application process) Results of the preparation process

3 Communication strategy & reporting 7-year communication strategy (approach, target group, budget,…) with annual updates (presenting forthcoming actions + assessing past ones) prepared by Managing Authority & discussed/approved by Monitoring Committee Reporting: annually to monitoring committee; assessment in annual implementation reports 2017 and 2019 currently: 7-year communication plan, compatibility check by Commission, unclear procedure to amend the plan, one chapter in annual report + mid-term assessment

4 Clearer expectations & responsibilities Not only for potential beneficiaries and on the funds, but also on the policy, results achieved and strategies pursued The managing authority shall provide information and publicity kits, including templates in electronic format, to help the beneficiaries meeting their obligations Beneficiary to mention already in project application info/com measures planned + communicate via billboards/plaques (for big projects only) & website, posters, …

5 Responsibilities of the managing authority Annex V (2.1) Ensure / organise that information and publicity measures are implemented in line with communication strategy widest possible media coverage using various forms of communication a programme launch event / annual major information activity the display of the EU flag at Managing Authority premises the publication of List of Operations publication of examples of projects on the web also in a widely spoken language (other than the official language(s) of the Member State) publication of updated information about programme implementation, incl. its main achievements provide information/publicity kits to beneficiaries (also in electronic form)

6 Responsibilities of the beneficiaries Annex V (2.2) actions have to acknowledge support from the funds by displaying the EU emblem, with a reference to the EU and the Fund provide information about the project on the beneficiary‘s website (incl. a short description with aims and results and highlighting the support from the EU). Communication actions to be proposed in project application placing at least one poster with information about the project “at a location readily visible to the public” for ESF operations (& other training projects supported by ERDF/CF) the beneficiary shall inform the participants of this funding billboard / permanent plaque for ERDF/CF infrastructure or construction operations above € 500,000 public funding

7 Clear rules for the list of projects/beneficiaries (see Annex V.1) Easier access to information about cohesion policy in the Member State: one website or website portal per MS with links to all programmes & lists of ‘operations‘ Emphasis on project‘s content (list of ‚operations‘) & not only on beneficiaries (short project description) More frequent updates (at least quarterly) Clearer definition of data fields and format (XML or CSV, spreadsheet compatible)

8 List of operations (projects) – data fields Beneficiary name (legal entities only) Project name Project summary Project start date Project end date Total eligible expenditure per project EU co-funding rate Project Post code Country Project Category Last update (of the List of Projects) Headings (and project name) in another official EU language

9 A national information/communication officer strengthens the role of current INFORM/INIO „core member“ responsible for the co-ordination of communication actions in the Member State (joint or per fund) tasks include: national website (portal); national communication network; publicity activities about project/contract results at national level

10 Increased visibility for EU‘s investment (billboards, plaques & logos) Non-infrastructure projects to be made more visible: posters and website acknowledgement of EU‘s regional policy‘s investment EU emblem to be placed in a visible place on the programme home page ( currently most programmes hide the EU flag at the bottom of the page, outside viewing area of a normal screen ) (not yet part of regulation) Commission to provide a billboard template for download on the Inforegio website