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Definitions

Standardised websites

EC branded standardised websites host 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

Table of Contents
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As defined, EC branded harmonised 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

  • Definition: 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

...

  • 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 websites Group 1 template

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For harmonised websites Group 1 the Global Banner, the site header, the page header and the footer are all mandatory components.  Inside each of these components, there are elements that are mandatory or optional as described in the table below: 

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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 should be 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

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European Commission logo linking to:

 https://ec.europa.eu/info

site name

...

login

language select

Europa search form

class name

menu

...

the harmonised page header gives context and information to the user on what the page is about. It should be on every page, just below the site header, except for the homepage. The page header is composed of mandatory and optional elements

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breadcrumb

meta

introduction 

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Harmonised Group 1 Footer

the harmonised footer should be on every page. It provides complementary information such as copyright, legal, privacy, social media, contact information and links to other important sections within the European Commission ecosystem. The footer is composed of mandatory and optional elements

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site name

content owner details

corporate name

service navigation

legal navigation

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DG- related service navigation

DG-related navigation

class names

Harmonised websites Group 2

Event website

  • Definition: an event website's sole purpose is to advertise a 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.

Harmonised websites Group 2 template

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For harmonised websites Group 2, the Global Banner, the site header and the footer are mandatory components. The page header is the only optional component. Inside each of these components, there are elements that are mandatory or optional as described in the table below: 

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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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  • 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

Standardised websites template

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                      Harmonised websites template                        

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EC branded standardised and harmonised anatomy table

SectionNo.componentStandardised templateHarmonised tempate

0.Global banner (provided by Webtools)

Image Added

Image Added

Site header1.EC identity (logo)

Image Added

Image Added

2. Login

Image Added

Image Added

3.Language switcher

Image Added (except monolingual websites)

Image Added  (except monolingual websites)

4.Search form

Image Added

Image Added

5. Class name

Image Added

Image Added

6.Site name

Image Added

Image Added

7. Menu

Image Added

Image Added

Page header8.Breadcrumb

Image Added  (except homepage)

Image Added  (except homepage)

9.Meta

Image Added

Image Added

10.Page title

Image Added (except homepage)

Image Added (except homepage)

11.Thumbnail

Image Added (requires introduction)

Image Added (requires introduction)

12.Introduction

Image Added

Image Added

Local footer13.Site name

Image Added

Image Added

14.Content owner details

Image Added

Image Added

15.Accessibility statement 

Image Added

Image Added

16.DG-related service navigation

Image Added

Image Added

17.DG-related navigation

Image Added

Image Added

18.Class names

Image Added

Image Added

Corporate footer19.Site logo

Image Added

Image Added

20.Service navigation

Image Added

Image Added

21.Legal navigation

Image Added

Image Added

Partnership websites 

When

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Harmonised Group 2 site header

the Hhrmonised site header should be 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 

...

European Commission logo linking to:

 https://ec.europa.eu/info

...

language select

Europa search form

menu

...

the harmonised page header gives context and information to the user on what the page is about. It should be on every page, just below the site header, except for the homepage. The page header is composed of mandatory and optional elements

...

page title

introduction

...

meta

 breadcrumb

...

Harmonised Group 2 Footer

the harmonised 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 EC ecosystem. All elements are mandatory

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corporate name

service navigation

legal navigation

Harmonised websites Group 3: Partnership websites

Definition: 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.  It is mandatory to use the harmonised websites Group 3 site header with the site name as the only mandatory element and the harmonised websites Group 3 Footer. It is recommended to keep all logo(s) at the same level, either in the header or the footer 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 of Europa Domain Comm Europa ManagementManagement (EU Login required).