1. EN Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION Information and Publicity Structural Funds Information Team Brussels, 30 June 2005 Barbara Piotrowska, DG REGIO in the future programming period 2007-2013

2. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 2 A short history Publicity measures from 1975 to 1988 and between 1988 and 1992 were largely confined to posters during the course of construction with little harmonisation of design or style. Stronger measures were built in to the 1993- 1999 regulations. For 2000-2006 period publicity became a requirement and communication plans were made a part of the programming complement. Publicity for Cohesion Policy The early days

3. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 3 Position now and to end 2006 Publicity and Information are NOT optional. Regulations 1260/99 and 1159/2000 made them mandatory. They should be used to: explain opportunities available to project developers (especially final beneficiaries); inform the general public of the EU role with MS partners; demonstrate the effectiveness of management and financial control. Publicity Publicity for Cohesion Policy

4. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 4 New Commission regulation for the programming period 2007-2013 Circumstances (1) Strong emphasis on communication in the new Commission – Commissioner on Communication. Strong emphasis on transparency of Community actions and spending. Need to make Community actions more visible to the European citizens. New regulation Publicity for Cohesion Policy

5. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 5 Circumstances (2) This is a draft regulation, still discussed by the Commission and the Council. Some provisions can still be changed! New regulation

6. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 6 Council Regulation 1260/1999 Art. 46 1. Member States shall ensure that publicity is given to development plans. 2. The managing authority shall be responsible for ensuring that publicity is given to the package and particularly for informing: (a) potential final beneficiaries (…) about the opportunities afforded by the assistance; (b) the general public about the role played by the Community in the assistance concerned and its results. 3. The Member States shall consult the Commission and inform it each year of the initiatives taken for the purposes set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article.

7. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 7 General Council Regulation for the programming period 2007-2013 Art. 68 1.The Member States shall provide information on and publicise co-financed programmes and operations. The information shall be addressed to European citizens and to the beneficiaries. It shall aim to highlight the role of the Community and ensure that assistance from the Funds is transparent. 2.The Managing Authority for the operational programme shall be responsible for the publicity in accordance with the implementing rules of this Regulation adopted by the Commission. New regulation

8. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 8 Draft Commission Regulation for the programming period 2007-2013 No separate Commission regulation on information and publicity. Visibility - Title 2. Clear construction: 3 chapters: -Communication plan -Information and Publicity measures -Networks 9 articles. New regulation

9. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 9 Communication plan No longer in the programme complement. The managing authority shall draw up a communication plan for each operational programme and forward it to the Commission within three months of adoption of the operational programme. or: The Member State may decide to draw up a communication plan that covers several operational programmes part-financed by the same Fund(s). In that case, the plan must be forwarded to the Commission by 31 December 2007 at the latest. Content requirements similar to the current communication plan. New regulation

10. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 10 Monitoring of the communication plan Stages of implementation, the examples of the products or information and the tools used - presented during the meetings of the Monitoring Committee. Managing authority, in its annual reports and in the final report, reports to the Commission about all the measures undertaken to provide information and publicity on the operational programme, together with the evaluation of those measures. The means used are proportional to the information needs identified in the communication plan. Technical assistance resources can be used to finance the information and publicity measures. New regulation

11. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 11 Information and Publicity measures Addressed to: Potential beneficiaries Beneficiaries General public New regulation

12. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 12 Information and Publicity measures for potential beneficiaries Managing Authority supplies maximum of information (similar as in the current regulation) on the possibility of financing offered jointly by the Community and the Member States in the operational programme. MA shall ensure that operational programmes are published widely, with details of the financial contributions from the Funds concerned, and that they are supplied to all interested applicants. MA uses professional groupings, socio- economic partners, non-governmental organisations, trade and business circles to relay information. New regulation

13. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 13 Information and Publicity measures aimed at beneficiaries Managing authority makes sure that the beneficiaries are informed that their project was selected from a programme part- financed by the ERDF, ESF or the Cohesion Fund. The information measures aimed at beneficiaries include the elements mentioned in Article 9 (European flag, explanation of the Community role). New regulation New regulation

14. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 14 Information and Publicity measures aimed at public Managing authority together with the beneficiaries undertake all possible actions to provide information and publicity for the public on selected projects. Clear division between managing authorities' and beneficiaries' responsibilities. New regulation New regulation

15. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 15 Information and Publicity – Managing Authority's responsibilities (1) MA informs the public about the following points: adoption of the operational programme by the Commission, the main achievements in its implementation, its closure; Commission's adoption of the decision on a major project and the main steps in implementing that project. New regulation New regulation

16. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 16 Information and Publicity – Managing Authorities' responsibilities (2) Information measures are carried out by the managing authority by means of all forms of media at the appropriate territorial level – communication campaigns, printed and electronic publications and any other medium regarded as suitable. If a project receives funding under an operational programme part-financed by the ESF, the managing authority makes sure that the participants of the project are informed of that funding. New regulation New regulation

17. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 17 Minimum requirements At least one major audio-visual broadcast presenting the launch or the achievements of the operational programme or programmes covered by the communication plan. On 9 May each year, flying the European flag for a week on the site of all projects part- financed by the Structural Funds and in training centres where the courses part- financed by the European Social Fund are organised. The information measures aimed at the public include the elements mentioned in article 9. New regulation New regulation

18. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 18 I&P on ERDF, Cohesion Fund beneficiaries' responsibilities SIGNIFICANT CHANGE: concerns all projects, not only ones exceeding 500 000 € (FIFG) or 3 000 000 € (other). The beneficiary erects a billboard on site, which will stay there during the works and/or carrying out of the projects. The beneficiary will replace it by a plaque, which is explanatory, permanent, visible and of a size which is appropriate and significant, 6 months at the latest after the end of the works and/or carrying out the project. Billboards and plaques contain the description of the projects and the elements mentioned in the article 9. These elements occupy at least 25% of the billboard or plaque. New regulation New regulation

19. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 19 Information and Publicity on ESF beneficiaries' responsibilities The beneficiary displays a clear notice that the project being implemented has been selected under an operational programme part-financed by the ESF. All certificates of attendance in a project of this type include a mention that the operational programme was part-financed from the ESF. Information measures aimed at the public include the elements mentioned in article 9. New regulation New regulation

20. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 20 Article 9 - Technical characteristics The measures for informing the public shall include the following elements: The European flag and the following slogans : "The European Regional Development Fund: " Here Europe is investing in your future"; "The Cohesion Fund: Here Europe is investing in your future"; "The European Social Fund: Jobs and new opportunities for all". New regulation New regulation

21. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 21 Network Each managing authority appoints person/s responsible for the information and publicity and informs the Commission. The Commission sets up and is responsible for coordinating the network composed of the above mentioned persons. Tasks: to ensure the exchange of good practices and the exchange of experience in carrying out information and publicity measures on the SF. The Commission may provide backing for exchange of experiences in the field of information and publicity through technical assistance. New regulation New regulation

22. Regional Policy EUROPEAN COMMISSION EN A new partnership for Cohesion Publicity for Cohesion Policy 22 In the new regulation: Simplification -1 regulation; 3 slogans instead of 12; Emphasis on monitoring and evaluation; Clear distinction between the information measures for beneficiaries, potential beneficiaries and the public; Clear division of responsibilities in providing information to the public between managing authorities and beneficiaries. KEPT: -principle of a communication plan; -principle of a link person for Brussels; NEW: -networks; -minimum requirements; -billboards and plaques concern all the beneficiaries. Summing up