The Managing Authority will be responsible for information and publicity on the Operational Programme in accordance with the following principles:
The information and publicity measures will be implemented in accordance with the communication plan
The measures will be aimed at the widest possible media coverage using various forms and methods of communication
The Operational Programme will be the subject of a major information activity publicising its launch and there will be at least one major information event each year thereafter.
The Operational Programme will be disseminated widely, with details of the contributions from the Funds, and will be made available to all interested parties.
Potential beneficiaries will be provided with clear and detailed information on conditions of eligibility, procedures for applying for funding and of eligibility criteria.
Publicity and information arrangements will involve co-operation with representatives of the Social Partners as well as regional and local authorities and development agencies in order to ensure the widest possible dissemination of the programme.
Beneficiaries will be made aware of their responsibilities for informing the public about the assistance obtained from the Funds.
Information actions on operations will be addressed to citizens and potential beneficiaries with the aim of highlighting the role of Community funding and ensuring transparency.
The EU logo will be displayed along with the intermediary body’s logo in all publicity material, application forms, letters of offer or grant approval, as well as on signs for projects as required under the Commission Regulation on implementing the Operational Programme. The Managing Authority will be assisted by the NDP Information Office in developing and implementing their information and publicity strategy for the Operational Programme.
A Communications Action Plan will be drawn up in consultation with the Monitoring Committee, in accordance with Article 2(2) of the Implementation Regulation (note 76), for submission to the Commission within four months of the date of adoption of the Operational Programme.
The communication plan shall include at least the following:
(a) the aims and target groups;
(b) the strategy and content of the information and publicity measures to be taken by the Member State or the Managing Authority, aimed at potential beneficiaries, beneficiaries and the public, having regard to the value added of Community assistance at national, Regional and local level;
(c) the indicative budget for implementation of the plan;
(d) the administrative departments or bodies responsible for implementation of information and publicity measures;
(e) an indication of how the information and communication measures are to be evaluated in terms of transparency, awareness of Operational Programmes and of the role played by the Community.
The Managing Authority will inform the Monitoring Committee of progress in implementing the Communications Action Plan, the information and communication measures carried out and the means of communication used. The Annual Report on Implementation of the Operational Programme shall include examples of information and communication measures for the Operational Programme taken in implementing the communication plan; the arrangements for the information and publicity measures and, where applicable, the electronic address at which those data may be found; and, the content of major amendments to the communication plan. An evaluation of the communications measures will be carried out in 2010.
The Managing Authority will, in accordance with the communication plan, ensure that the Operational Programme is disseminated widely, with details of the financial contributions from the Funds concerned, and that it is made available to all interested parties. It will also ensure that information on the financing opportunities offered by joint assistance from the Community and the Member State through the Operational Programme is disseminated as widely as possible.
The Managing Authority will involve in information and communication measures, bodies such as national, regional and local authorities and development agencies; trade and professional associations; economic and social partners; non-governmental organisations; organisations representing business; information centres on Europe and Commission representations in the Member States; and educational institutions, that can widely disseminate information on the Operational Programme.
The Managing Authority will ensure that the information and communication measures are implemented in accordance with the communication plan aiming at the broadest possible media coverage using all suitable forms and methods of communication including web-sites, brochures) at the appropriate territorial level. The Managing Authority will designate a contact person to be responsible for information and communication and inform the Commission accordingly.
Beneficiaries will be responsible for informing the public about the assistance obtained from the Funds by appropriate information means. Beneficiaries will also ensure that those taking part in an operation have been informed of that funding. Beneficiaries will provide clear notice to the effect that the operation being implemented has been selected under this Operational Programme co-financed by ERDF.
The Managing Authority will organise a high profile event at which the Operational Programme will be launched. The Managing Authority will ensure that the actions envisaged under the Communications Action Plan will be adequately resourced from the Technical Assistance Priority of the Operational Programme.
Note 76 Commission Regulation (EC) 1828/2006 setting out rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) 1083/2006 http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/regulation/pdf/2007/fsfc/ce_1828(2006)_en.pdf
