1. Regional Policy Information and Communication rules 2014+ The state of play European Commission Peter Fischer, Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy Budapest, 30-31 May 2013

2. Regional Policy Continuation of proven practices – 7 year Communication strategy – List of Operations – Programme launch event, annual activity – Billboards & Plaques – Communication officers and their networks 2

3. Regional Policy Clarification of existing rules Better definition of communication responsibilities of Managing Authority and beneficiary Recognition of Networks of Communication officers (EU-wide and in Member States); Clearer role for national information officer; there can be one per fund (ESF/ERDF+CF), or only one national information officer for ESF/ERDF/CF. (Responsible for the co-ordination of communication actions at national level in the Member State and the single Cohesion policy website or portal) 3

4. Regional Policy What changes? Communication strategy No approval by Commission, only by MC, 6 months after OP adoption Yearly progress report, incl. analysis of activities by MA to the Monitoring Committee and yearly updates of planned communication activities, on which the MC may give an opinion 4

5. Regional Policy More Transparency List of operations with clearer, searchable and more comparable information Single website (or portal) for all EU Regional policy programmes in a Member State Better visibility for all, incl. smaller, projects: Projects to acknowledge EU funding on website; Use of posters for projects <500,000 EUR 5

6. Regional Policy Information and communication officers Information and communication officer at MS level Coordinates national network of Funds’ communicators where such a network exists Responsible for creation and maintenance of Cohesion policy website and the provision of an overview of activities undertaken at national level Communication officers at programme level continues, but one comm. Officer may be responsible for more than one OP 6

7. Regional Policy Managing Authority’s responsibilities Project examples in foreign language on single CP website Periodical updates of OP implementation progress May ask project applicants to propose indicative communication activities 7

8. Regional Policy Beneficiary’s responsibilities Reference to European Structural and Investment Funds if > 1 fund A3 size posters for projects < 500,000 Euro Billboard, plaque: to indicate name and also main objective of the operation Can be requested by MA to propose indicative communication activities in project application 8

9. Regional Policy Communication strategy Responsibility: Member State or Managing Authorities; Full flexibility: Where a common communication strategy is drawn up for several operational programmes and concerns several monitoring committees, the Member State may designate one monitoring committee which shall be responsible, in consultation with the other relevant monitoring committees, for the approval of the common strategy and for the approval of any subsequent revisions. Art. 106 9

10. Regional Policy The road ahead Trilogue: negotiation between Council, European Parliament, European Commission approaching the finish line Target date for final adoption by legislators: October 2013 10

11. Regional Policy Any questions? 11