Communication is an opportunity and obligation in project activities
Why are we communicating?
Communication is a key part of the activities of each project supported by the EU funds. The communication and visibility obligations of the EU apply to all project activities. Beneficiaries of EU funding have a legal obligation to indicate the origin of the funding and to ensure the visibility of EU funding through communication activities.
By means of communication, the project:
- tells about the EU funding received
- informs the public and target groups about its activities and the results achieved in the project
- reaches out to new target groups, involves organisations and people in EU funded project activities
- shares the operating models, best practices, results and outputs developed in the project for general use
The purpose of communication is to get the project reference groups interested in the project and to involve new actors and people. Communicating can also inform about the results of the project and disseminate best practices. Communication is a prerequisite for the success of the structural fund project.
Communication is a prerequisite for the success of an EU-funded project. The EU obliges beneficiaries to communicate about the project throughout its implementation.
Article 50 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council, hereinafter “the general Regulation”, lays down the communication obligations of beneficiaries.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj
Communication is a statutory obligation of the project implementer. A reduction of no more than 3 per cent may be imposed on the aid granted for the violation of which.
To support communication, the EU has prepared a communication guide for beneficiaries, intermediate bodies and managing authorities. Communication-related tasks under the above-mentioned Regulation are described on pages 25 and 26 of the guidelines. Projects shall act in accordance with the guidelines.
Guide: communicating about cohesion policy in 2021-2027
https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/policy/communication/communicating_cohesion_policy_2127_fi.pdf
The EU flag code and instructions for using the flag can be found on the website of the European Commission
https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information-sources/logo-download-center_en
https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/policy/communication/communicating_cohesion_policy_2127_fi.pdf
Communication must be planned to deliver agreed results and increase the effectiveness of the project. For this reason the project must already define at the application stage what kind of communication will be made in the project and what the target groups of communication will be.
It is useful to draw up a more detailed communication plan for the project than is written in the project application. It should at least answer the following questions:
- what are the project's communication objectives
- to whom does the project communicate
- what are the main messages of the project
- responsibilities between project implementers in communication activities
- how and where to communicate about the project
- how to ensure the visibility of the EU appropriately
- in such a way that all parties and persons involved in the project are aware of the EU funding for the project
The EU emblem is used in all communication and all communication channels.
For the 2021–2027 programming period projects financed by EU regional and structural policy funds (ERDF, ESF +, JTF) will use an emblem with the text “Co-financed by the European Union”.
Please note that the name of the fund is not mentioned in this context. National logos referring to EU support may not be used in addition to the EU emblem.
You can find the EU emblems in different EU languages on the Commission's website (download Centre) and also the Guidelines for recipients of EU funding (Guidelines for the use of the emlem).
https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/information/logos_downloadcenter/
According to the general regulation an information plaque is set when the total funding of a project exceeds the limits set out in the regulation (ERDF EUR 500,000 and JTF plus ESF + EUR 100,000) and when the project involves an investment or the purchase of equipment. The relative size of the investment or the size of the equipment purchased is irrelevant. Any project involving an investment of some size or the purchase of equipment shall be required to affix an information sign if the total funding of the project exceeds the above limits. However, there is no obligation to install a sign if any acquisitions of equipment are reasonable and none of them exceed the limit of EUR 3,000 and they are covered on flat rate.
If the development project does not include equipment purchase there is no obligation to set an information plaque. In this case it is sufficient regardless of the amount of funding to place an A3 sized poster in a prominent position. The poster may also be an electronic display. The information on several projects can be displayed alternately on an electronic screen if the implementer has more than one project.
Information plaque in group projects
In group projects, the total costs of the entire group project (including private funding) are considered when assessing the obligation to use the information sign. If the total cost exceeds the set limits (EUR 500.000 for ERDF projects, EUR 100.000 for JTF and ESF + projects) and an investment or equipment purchase is carried out for a sub-project, an information plaque shall be placed in its vicinity. If there are several investments in a group project that meets the conditions for the use of an information sign, the sign must be placed in the vicinity of each investment.
An A3-sized poster shall be placed at all execution points.
Durability of the information plaque
The information plaque shall be permanent and shall be kept in the original or comparable place.
A poster and information plaque generator is available on the Commission's website. The generator has model templates of different sizes to utilise. The recommendation is to use these templates to make the A3 sized posters and information plaques. The size of the information plaque is not specified in the General Regulation. However, they should be clearly and visibly placed.
https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/policy/communication/online-generator_en
EU funding is highlighted prominently in documents, communication materials and events intended for the public and project participants. Communication materials include websites and social media channels. The EU emblem is used in all documents and communication material.
A description of the project is to be published on the implementing organisation's website. It is recommended that the project also has its own website which is maintained throughout the project's implementation. The website provides information on the objectives, measures and results of the project.
A project of strategic importance or a project with a total cost of more than 10 million euro must organise a specific communication action, such as an event or other communication activity such as a press conference or a campaign.
The projects referred to above must be in contact with the funding authority for the communication activity and, in cooperation with the authority, inform the administrative authority (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment) and the EU Commission of the communication activity well in advance and offer them the opportunity to participate in the communication activity.
The EU Commission's toolkit to support communications on strategically important projects is available on the Commission's website:
Communicating operations of strategic importance in 2021–2027: A practical toolkit
In the media bank Emmi of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment there are materials for use in the implementation of project activities and official work:
- PowerPoint templates
- Document templates
- Icons for visual illustration
- Video clips
- Guidance on the use of the visual material