Project branding and visibility rules

Interreg Europe uses a common programme visual identity. It is based on the harmonised branding for all Interreg programmes (learn more at http://www.interact-eu.net/download/file/fid/660 or see video at http://www.interact-eu.net/library/video-new-interreg-logo). Common branding is instrumental to the programme communication strategy by consolidating the achievements of Interreg Europe projects in particular, while increasing the visibility of Interreg in general. The projects Interreg Europe supports must therefore follow the programme’s corporate design guidelines when developing their project communication tools. To this end, the programme provides each approved project with a communication toolkit, including:

 Project logo set

 Project poster template

 Suggested PowerPoint template

 Project website

 Project-specific branding guidelines

Logo and acronym

The Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 (Annex XII, Article 2.2) requires all beneficiaries to follow a number of rules regarding the use of the logo of the European Union and the respective fund – ERDF in the case of Interreg Europe. The EU logo must always be visible in a prominent place (on the first/ landing page, visible, without scrolling, on all electronic and mobile devices) and of a comparable size to other logos used. Please check with the national representative if there are any national publicity requirements to be respected in addition.

The Interreg Europe project logo set already respects all the programme requirements, and all approved projects are obliged to use it on all their communication material (both hard copy and electronic), including material that results from their exchange of experience. Projects will receive their own logo set once they have been formally approved (see examples of project logos below). The Interreg Europe programme logo set can be downloaded from the programme’s website: www.interregeurope.eu

The projects are requested not to develop their own project logo, because they have such a limited shelf life. Developing a logo is costly compared to the benefit such special branding can bring to the project during its lifetime and consolidating results becomes more difficult. A specific logo might however be considered for an output/ result with a lifetime going beyond the project. Prior approval of the joint secretariat would then be required.

A key component of the project’s brand is the project acronym. It is therefore important to decide on an acronym that is short, easy to pronounce and associated with the project’s theme, if possible. Project acronyms can be no longer than 22 characters in total, and no more than 11 characters per word. The project acronyms will also be used to create the project website url (see next paragraph) so the acronym should avoid using special characters (& ! . * etc) as these cannot be represented in the website address.

Project website

Interreg Europe designed, developed and hosts all project websites and their use is mandatory for each project. They are an integral part of the already existing ‘mother’ website: www.interregeurope.eu.

There is a close link between the project websites and the Interreg Europe website. For example, news and events published on the project websites will appear as well on the Interreg Europe homepage level, thereby multiplying their reach.

Project websites will be a mix of information transferred directly from the programme’s database, such as project description, partnership, information about the financing, and other information as requested in the EU Regulations (EU) No 1303/2013 Annex XII, Article 2; and sections to be customised by each project, such as extra pages or sub-pages, buttons and links to integrate external tools etc.

A standard site-map is in place, based on our analysis of project websites in the previous programming period (INTERREG IVC).

Menu bar:

Home button/About project section which includes:

Project summary field Budget & duration details Partnership on interactive map Policy instruments details News section

Events section

Good practices (if any submitted) Library section

Contact us section with a possibility to link people to the project Extra page(s) (with up to 2 pages, sub-level)

Examples of project websites can be found by searching the Interreg Europe ‘Discover projects’ section:

http://www.interregeurope.eu/discover-projects/

The project partnership will be responsible for editing and updating their website. Administrator rights can be allocated to one or more users in the project. Project administrators are required to become members of the Interreg Europe community, as the website is administered via the ‘front end’ of the Interreg Europe website. Websites should be updated at least once every six months.

Administrators should pay special attention to the text used on the website. The style needs to be tailored to its purpose, that is, it should inform website readers about the project in a simple and reader-friendly manner. Full guidance on how to edit the project website is provided upon project approval.

The programme does not provide a newsletter tool, or an extranet or other password-protected section.

The projects can develop other digital communication tools (e.g. newsletter) and link them to the predefined structure hosted by the programme. They have to be designed in accordance with the visual identity of the project website with the incorporated logo set of the programme. If project(s) (partners) wish to develop such digital tools, prior approval by the joint secretariat is necessary. Such digital tools should preferably be planned and justified in the application form. If this is not the case, projects are requested to consult the joint secretariat beforehand to confirm whether the additional costs are eligible and can be reported in the progress report.

The integrated system of programme and project websites is intended to ensure a more efficient interconnection between the project activities and the programme. The programme will ensure that the information published by the projects is searchable in a database comprising data from all Interreg Europe projects. This enables project news, events and library folders to be more readily integrated in the programme news/ events/ library section, resulting in higher project visibility. Finally, this integrated system of websites is intended to save the projects' financial and human resources needed for procuring and setting up a website.

The projects could envisage developing a separate website (and/ or a logo – see above) only if the project activities are expected to result in a self-standing tool with a lifespan reaching beyond the end of the project. Such a logo and a website would constitute a tool only, which will have to be linked to the project website under Interreg Europe. Any development of such a tool should be approved during the assessment of the project and requires a specific justification. Should its development be approved,

the tool must comply with the programme’s publicity requirements. The development of such a tool is judged by the joint secretariat on its added-value to the project and its interregionality.

Institutional website

All project partners have to follow the requirements laid down in the Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 (Annex XII Article 2.2 paragraph 2.a) and publish information about the project on their institutional website (where such a website exists). Project partners should provide a short description of the project, its aims and results, partnership, and highlight the financial support from the European Union (Interreg Europe/ ERDF). The information about the project has to include the programme logo set in a visible place, meeting the general visibility and publicity requirements of the programme. A link to the project website should be added for more information about the project activities.

Poster

Within six months of the approval of the project, each project partner has to place at least one poster with information about the project (minimum size A3), including the financial support from the ERDF, at a location readily visible to the public, such as the entrance area of a building (Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, Annex XII Article 2.2 paragraph 2.b). First level controllers will check the application of this article. The Interreg Europe programme provides a downloadable template for the production of the poster. The poster template can be modified by the project partners at their own responsibility. The text of the poster can be translated into national languages.

The poster needs to stay visible for the whole duration of the project. The printing costs of the poster, and any eventual modifications, should be budgeted in the project application.

It is not acceptable to substitute the poster with a roll-up banner or digital screen.

Events

During events, projects should ensure visibility of the EU and the programme. The Interreg Europe project logo set has to be used on any agendas, list of participants, related hand-outs and presentations.

Publications

All electronic or printed material, such as booklets, leaflets, newsletters, studies, good practice guides, or presentations must display the Interreg Europe project logo set. This includes a clear reference to the ERDF funding in each publication. Templates of the standard communication material (poster, press release, and so on) will be available on the programme website.

Please note that if the visibility and publicity requirements are not observed or only partly observed, the related costs incurred may be considered ineligible for ERDF funding.

Further to Article 12 (2) of the subsidy contract, the programme does not require a disclaimer to be put on any publication that presents information already present in the application form (eg a flyer presenting the partnership and topic for cooperation). Any publication in relation to the project presenting new content (eg policy recommendations, good practice guides, case studies etc) must state that it only reflects the author's views and that the programme authorities are not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.