Page History
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EC branded standardised websites host thematic content detailingsuch as policies for which the owner DG/Agency is responsible. Web information systems are permanent websites providing a user-friendly interface to generate, disclose and/or filter large, detailed amounts of data stored in different systems. These websites must also use the EC branded standardised websites design templateStandardised 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 policy websites but optional when building a web information system standardised websites.
Harmonised websites
EC branded harmonised websites host 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 and/or filter large, detailed amounts of data stored in different systems.
- Network websites: 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.
- 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. See SCIC tools available for registration.
- Campaign websites:
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- 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: 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.
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.
Rules
- 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 | Harmonised websites template |
|---|
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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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:
site name
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login
language select
Europa search form
class name
menu
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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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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 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 requirements.
Campaign website
- Definition: 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
- Definition: 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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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 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:
...
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
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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
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EC branded standardised and harmonised anatomy table
| Section | No. | component | Standardised template | Harmonised tempate |
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| 0. | Global banner (provided by Webtools) |
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| Site header | 1. | EC identity (logo) |
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| 2. | Login |
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| 3. | Language switcher |
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| 4. | Search form |
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| 5. | Class name |
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| 6. | Site name |
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| 7. | Menu |
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| Page header | 8. | Breadcrumb |
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| 9. | Meta |
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| 10. | Page title |
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| 11. | Thumbnail |
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| 12. | Introduction |
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| Local footer | 13. | Site name |
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| 14. | Content owner details |
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| 15. | Sitemap |
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| 16. | DG-related service navigation |
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| 17. | DG-related navigation |
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| 18. | Class names |
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| Corporate footer | 19. | Site logo |
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| 20. | Service navigation |
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| 21. | Legal navigation |
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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. 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 the Europa domain: Comm Europa Management.
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