Publicity

All projects in receipt of European Structural Fundsi are required to publicise the fact that they have been assisted by a European Programme; this is a formal condition of grant. If this requirement is not met, funding can be withdrawn. There is sometimes confusion amongst project applicants as to how they should suitably address these requirements. The following brief guide should prove helpful.

General

Information and publicity about assistance from the Structural Funds is intended to increase public awareness and transparency regarding the activities of the European Union and create a coherent picture across all Member States. The European Commission is extremely keen that beneficiaries, potential beneficiaries, economic and Structural Funds.

Beneficiaries

It is essential to make beneficiaries aware that they are participating in an operation part-financed by the European Union. This is particularly, (although not solely) important for beneficiaries of training schemes and employment measures. The use of the relevant logo and text should be incorporated into all visual literature relating to a project, examples include:

  • Letterheads
  • Compliment slips
  • Business cards
  • Press releases
  • Advertisements
  • Promotional material
  • Certificates of achievement or attendance
  • Monitoring and evaluation forms
  • Training forms
  • Website
  • Newsletter
  • Audio visual materials

Although not always possible, the European Commission strongly encourages the use of the relevant logo on the actual title page of any piece of literature. It is also expected that support from European Structural Funds is verbally promoted to beneficiaries and to the wider community at external meetings, training events and at all other relevant platforms. The display of EU promotional posters and the European Union flag is also encouraged. The ESFi Logo The new ESF logo was introduced at the start of the current programming period of 2000-2006.

For those organisations currently using the ESF logo, please ensure that your version states; 'European Union; and not 'European Community'. The wording on the logo has been updated. If you are using printed material which uses the 'European Community' strapline, do not panic as you can use up current stock and then revise the logo when you replenish stocks.

Alternatively, the ESF logo can be downloaded from the website below.
This website also features a comprehensive guide on how to correctly use the ESF logo, eg. colour reproduction, size variations, exclusion zones etc. It is recommended that this guide is consulted. If you are unable to download the logo, please contact the European Team at North West Network. Tel: 0161 236 6493
www.esf.gov.uk/publicity/how.asp

The ERDFi Logo
The ERDF logo incorporates the European Union emblem itself with the wording as demonstrated. To download the logo, right click your mouse, select 'Save Picture As' and select a location to store the image. Contrary to common thinking, the most important thing to remember is to mention the European Union, it is 'optional' whether you mention ERDF or not. The wording can be placed underneath the logo as well, but not to the left or above. Please note that the use of the European emblem without the relative text is not sufficient.

The Official Emblem of the European Union
The official emblem of the European Union is an instantly recognisable and indeed powerful image. To download the logo, right click your mouse, select 'Save Picture As' and select a location to store the image. The European Commission welcomes the use of the European Union emblem. A frequent mistake is to use the emblem upside down. It is easy to check if it is the right way up by looking at the stars. If the stars have two points each pointing upwards, then the emblem is the wrong way up. Another mistake is to change the orientation of the stars. The circle is arranged so that the stars appear in the position of the hours on the face of a clock. The standard colours to be used are Pantone Reflex Blue and Pantone Yellow, reproduction in black and white is also accepted. For further Information on how to correctly display the official emblem of the European Union as illustrated above, please visit the the following website:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/sources

Promotional Text
It may be appropriate to explain the role of the Structural Funds within promotional materials such as brochures, exhibition catalogues or press releases. To help those involved in preparing such materials, the European Commission prefers the following descriptions of each of the funds:

  • The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Helping to reduce the gap between development levels and living standards among the regions and the extent to which least-favoured regions are lagging behind. Helping redress the main regional imbalances in the Community by participating in the development and structural adjustment of regions whose development is lagging behind and the economic and social conversion of regions.
  • The European Social Fund (ESF) Helping develop employment by promoting employability, the business spirit and equal opportunities and investing in human resources.
  • Wording for More than One Fund The Structural Funds aim to help to promote the development and structural adjustment of a region that has fallen behind other parts of the European Community.

Please remember that abbreviations should not be used without the full names of the Fund.

Billboards
The European Commission guidelines state that projects involved in part-financed infrastructure investments with costs exceeding Euro 500,000 (for projects financed by the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance, FIFGi) Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance. Finances measures for the adjustment of fisheries and aquaculture structures and the processing and marketing of their products) and Euro 3 million (for the other funds) must erect a site billboard. Such billboards need to include a space for the indication of the European Union's contribution. Billboards must be of a size that is appropriate to the scale of the operation and may either reflect all sources of finance or may just show European support. The section of the billboard showing European support must meet the following criteria:

  • It must take up at least 25% of the total area of the billboard
  • It must show the European emblem and the wording ‘Project Part-Financed by the European Union'
  • The lettering used to indicate European support must be at least the same size as the lettering for other contributions, although the typeface may be different
  • The billboard must be removed no later than 6 months after completion of the work and replaced by a permanent commemorative plaque

Permanent Commemorative Plaques
There is the additional requirement for permanent commemorative plaques to be placed at sites accessible to the general public which represent projects part-financed by the Structural Funds. Infrastructure projects whose total cost is more than Euro 3 million or more than Euro 500,000 (FIFG) are required to have plaques. The plaque must show the European emblem and wording reflecting the contribution from the European Union. It is optional to include the name of the Structural Fund although it is strongly encouraged. For ESF projects, permanent plaques should be displayed in buildings where ESF funding has supported a project. Commercial business premises must display a commemorative plaque for at least one year. In order to increase public awareness of ESF-supported activities and to encourage publicity measures, the European Social Fund Division has commissioned the production of plaques that are available to all projects. This offer is open to applicant organisations and their subcontractors. It is also open to providers delivering ESF activity under the direct bidding route or via co-financingi. The plaques can be obtained by contacting the following distribution company.

Corporate Document Services
7 Eastgate, Leeds
LS2 7LY
Tel: 0113 3994040
Fax: 0113 3994205
E-Mail: http://orderline@cds.co.uk

On contacting CDS the following code needs to be quoted in order to obtain the plaques and the fixing kits.

Order Code: ESF0001

Useful Links
It is worth noting that Objective 2i Action Plan Partnerships can provide further advice and guidance on ERDF publicity requirements and copies of the ERDF logo. The Publicity Manager in the ESF Division of the Department for Education and Skills (DfESi) can provide advice on publicity requirements and supply examples of promotional merchandise. Please contact:

Lynnette Keller
European Social Fund Division N2
Moorfoot, Sheffield
S1 4PQ
Tel: 0114 267 7295
Fax: 0114 267 7285
E-Mail: lynnette.keller@dfes.gsi.gov.uk

Conclusion
To conclude - it's easy to forget about publicity, especially when you're concentrating on budgets and beneficiaryi numbers. However, if you have a project which has been part-funded by European Structural Funds, you will be monitored to see that you are complying with the Regulations. This will happen either through a claimi and progress report, or if you are inspected by an auditor. If you have not promoted the European contribution, you may have to pay back some of the grant. The ESF Divisions Verification and Audit Team carry out audit inspections to ESF funded projects and they themselves list, Nil or inadequate publicity; as one of their main areas of concern from previous audits. So, don't forget, always build into your project budget an amount for publicity, don't start promoting until full approval notification has been received and if in doubt, seek further guidance.

Tel: 0161 236 6493