Page History

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Definitions

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Standardised websites

EC branded Harmonised standardised websites host specific content that answers a particular communication purpose.

Where possible we recommend the use of ECL components, while acknowledging that some sites in this category may have specific requirements. 

We have identified three groups of harmonised sites:

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Web information systems

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Event website

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Partnership websites 

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Network websites

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Campaign website

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Internal policy websites

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Blogs

Rules

Harmonised websites Group 1

Web information systems

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thematic content such as policies for which the owner DG/Agency is responsible. Standardised websites are:

• DG websites: the main entry point describing a DG's or an executive agency's work around policy and their daily activity.

It is mandatory to use the Europa Web Publishing Platform (EWPP) for the development of standardised websites.

Harmonised websites

EC branded harmonised websites host specific content that answers a particular communication purpose. Hamonised websites are:

• Web information systems: permanent websites providing a user-friendly interface to generate, disclose anddisclose and/or filter large, detailed amounts of data stored in different systems. Scope: web information systems follow design principles close to those for core and standardised websites.
• Network websites

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• Definition:  network websites are websites or platforms set up and managed by the European Commission (as a service provider) to encourage and facilitate interaction among a specific, non-EC target audience. 
• Scope: network websites follow design principles close to those for core and standardised sites. 

Internal policy websites

• Definition: websites providing information on internal working methods of the EU institutions, standards and guidelines. Resources for institutions’ employees, partners and service providers.
• Scope: internal policy websites follow design principles close to those for core and standardised sites.

Harmonised Group 1 websites template:

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Global Banner

the Global banner is the official EU stamp that gives a visual indicator and easy access to EU institutions and bodies sites, guaranteeing the user visits an official EU website

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Harmonised Group 1 site header

the Harmonised site header is present on every page. It communicates the European Commission brand and provides basic structure and guidance. The site header is composed of several mandatory and optional elements such as:

• European Commission logo
• Login
• Language select
• Europa search form
• Class name
• Site name
• Menu

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the Harmonised page header gives context and information to the user on what the page is about. It is present on every page, just below the site header, except for the homepage. The page header is composed of mandatory and optional elements such as:

• Breadcrumb
• Meta
• Page title
• Introduction

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Harmonised websites Group 2

Event website

• Definition: an event website's sole purpose is to advertise Event websites: websites advertising a specific or repeatedly occurring activity that is open to the public, organised and/or hosted by the European Commission. The website can be temporary and provide information about an event before, during and after it takes place. It can be complemented by a campaign. Event websites are only allowed for large and complex events that cannot be accommodated by the events content type. Scope: events may have specific requirementsSee SCIC tools available for registration.
• Campaign

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• Definition: a temporarywebsites: a temporary, online communication endeavour dedicated to promoting a single or several thematically linked activities, initiatives, services or products. The website may form the online part of a broader campaign, communicated by other channels such as print and social media.
• Blogs

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• Definition: regularly regularly updated websites dedicated to publishing general features and news items about specific European Commission activities, from an individual perspective or via a corporate (DG/Agency-managed) newsletter/magazine.
• Communities: virtual community with its own members sharing content on a comment topic. Check DIGIT's solution for online communities: Europa Community Platform (ECP SaaS, the version of Open Social for the EC).
• Databases: a structured set of data made public through a website.
• Web tools and applications: a software application that runs in a web browser and is made available to users with an active network connection. 

It is optional to use the Europa Web Publishing Platform (EWPP) for the development of harmonised websites.

Rules

The EC branded standardised and harmonised website uses the components of the Europa Components Library (ECL) as this template shows:

EC branded standardised and harmonised websites templates

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Desktop version

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Mobile version

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Image RemovedClick on pictures to enlargeComponentsMandatoryOption

Global Banner

the Global banner is the official EU stamp that gives a visual indicator and easy access to EU institutions and bodies sites, guaranteeing the user visits an official EU website

yesno

Harmonised Group 2 site header

the Harmonised site header is present on every page. It communicates the European Commission brand and provides basic structure and guidance. The site header is composed of several mandatory and optional elements such as:

• European Commission logo
• Language select
• Europa search form
• Menu

yesnoHarmonised Group 2 page header

the Harmonised page header gives context and information to the user on what the page is about. It is present on every page, just below the site header, except for the homepage. The page header is composed of mandatory and optional elements such as:

• Breadcrumb
• Meta
• Page title
• Introduction

yesnoHarmonised Group 2 Footer
The standardised footer should be on every page. It provides supplementary information such as copyright, legal, privacy, social media, contact information and links to other important sections within the European Commission ecosystem.yesno

Harmonised websites Group 3

Partnership websites

• Definition: A partnership website is a website where the European Commission is a cooperating partner in its creation but is not the sole owner of the information contained therein. It is a joint effort between the EC and non-EC partners in terms of concept, budget, management and maintenance and requires its own individual form of governance and custom style guides to accommodate possible co-branding.

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The specific detailed rules for EC-branded core websites, are described in detail in the Harmonised group 3 template section of the ECL. 

Contact and support

If you require further assistance, please contact:

Comm Europa Management

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EC branded standardised and harmonised anatomy table

Partnership websites 

When the European Commission shares the ownership of a website with one or several non-EU institution(s), it is a partnership website. The European Commission and its partners co-decide on the content and cooperate in terms of budget, maintenance and management of the website. As a result, the design is a based on an agreement between partners.

This category is an exception and there is no imposed design template. However, we strongly recommend to pay particular attention to:

• the partnership website header: it is recommended to have the site name next to the partnership logo in the header
• the partnership website footer: the logos of all partners including the European Commission should be displayed at the same level

Contact and support

Need further assistance on this topic? Please contact the team in charge of the Europa domain: Comm Europa Management.