Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 808/2014Show full title

ANNEX III Information and publicity referred to in Article 13

PART 1 Information and publicity actions

1. Responsibilities of the Managing Authority

1.1. Information and publicity strategy

The Managing Authority shall ensure that the information and publicity actions are implemented in accordance with its information and publicity strategy which shall cover at least the following:

(a)

the aims of the strategy and its target groups;

(b)

a description of the content of the information and publicity actions;

(c)

the indicative budget of the strategy;

(d)

a description of the administrative bodies, including the staff resources, responsible for implementing the information and publicity actions;

(e)

a description of the role played by the NRN and how its communication plan referred to in Article 54(3)(vi) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 will contribute to the implementation of the strategy;

(f)

a description of how the information and publicity actions shall be assessed in terms of visibility and awareness of the policy framework, programmes and operations, and of the role played by the EAFRD and the Union;

(g)

an annual update setting out the information and publicity activities to be carried out in the following year.

1.2. Information for the potential beneficiaries

The Managing Authority shall ensure that potential beneficiaries have access to the relevant information, including updated information where necessary, taking into account the accessibility of electronic or other communication services for certain potential beneficiaries, on at least the following:

(a)

the funding opportunities and the launching of calls under the RDPs;

(b)

the administrative procedures to be followed in order to qualify for financing under a RDP;

(c)

the procedures for examining applications for financing;

(d)

the eligibility conditions and/or criteria for selecting and evaluating the projects to be financed;

(e)

the names of persons or contacts at national, regional or local level who can explain the way RDPs work and the criteria for selecting and evaluating the operations;

(f)

the responsibility of beneficiaries to inform the public about the aim of the operation and the support from the EAFRD to the operation in accordance with section 2 of Part 1. The Managing Authority may request potential beneficiaries to propose indicative communication activities, proportional to the size of the operation, in the applications;

(g)

the procedures for the examination of complaints under Article 74(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013.

1.3. Information for the general public

The Managing Authority shall inform the public of the content of the RDP, its adoption by the Commission and its updates, the main achievements in the implementation of the programme and its closure, as well as its contribution to the achievement of the Union priorities as set out in the Partnership Agreement.

The Managing Authority shall ensure the establishment of a single website or single website portal providing the information referred to in points 1.1 and 1.2, and the first paragraph of this point. The establishment of the single website shall not disrupt smooth implementation of the EAFRD and not restrict access for potential beneficiaries and stakeholders to the information. The actions for informing the public shall include the elements set out in point 1 of Part 2.

1.4. Involvement of bodies acting as relays

The Managing Authority shall ensure, including through the NRN, that bodies that can act as relays are involved in the information actions for potential beneficiaries, and in particular:

(a)

partners as referred to in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013;

(b)

information centers on Europe, as well as Commission representation offices, and Information offices of the European Parliament in Member States;

(c)

educational and research institutions.

1.5. Notification of the award of support

The Managing Authority shall ensure that the notification of award of the support informs beneficiaries that the action is being financed under a programme part-financed by the EAFRD and of the measure and priority of the RDP concerned.

2. Responsibilities of beneficiaries

2.1. All information and communication actions of the beneficiary shall acknowledge support from the EAFRD to the operation by displaying:

(a)

the Union emblem;

(b)

a reference to the support from the EAFRD.

Where an information or publicity action relates to an operation or to several operations co-financed by more than one Fund, the reference provided for in point (b) may be replaced by a reference to the ESI Funds.

2.2. During the implementation of an operation, the beneficiary shall inform the public about the support obtained from the EAFRD by:

(a)

providing on the beneficiary’s website for professional use, where such a website exists, a short description of the operation where a link between the purpose of the website and the support provided to the operation can be established, proportionate to the level of support, including its aims and results, and highlighting the financial support from the Union;

(b)

for operations not falling under point (c) the total public support of which exceeds EUR 10 000 and depending on the operation funded (for example for operations under Article 20 on village renewal or LEADER operations), at least one poster with information about the operation (minimum size A3), highlighting the financial support from the Union, at a location readily visible to the public, such as the entrance area of a building. Where an operation under a RDP results in an investment (for example, on a farm or on food enterprise) the total public support of which exceeds EUR 50 000, the beneficiary shall place an explanatory plaque with information about the project, highlighting the financial support from the Union. An explanatory plaque shall also be installed in the premises of the local action groups financed by LEADER;

(c)

putting up, at a location readily visible to the public, a temporary billboard of a significant size for each operation consisting of the financing of infrastructure or construction operations for which the total public support to the operation exceeds EUR 500 000.

No later than three months after completion of an operation, the beneficiary shall put up a permanent plaque or billboard of significant size at a location readily visible to the public for each operation that fulfils the following criteria:

(i)

the total public support to the operation exceeds EUR 500 000;

(ii)

the operation consists of the purchase of a physical object or of the financing of infrastructure or of construction operations.

This billboard shall state the name and the main objective of the operation and highlight the financial support provided from the Union.

The billboards, posters, plaques and websites shall carry a description of the project/operation and the elements referred to in of point 1 of Part 2. That information shall take up at least 25 % of the billboard, plaque or webpage.

PART 2 Technical characteristics of information and publicity actions

1. Logo and slogan

Each action of information and publicity shall display the following elements:

(a)

the Union emblem in accordance with the graphic standards as presented on http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/emblem/download_en.htm, together with an explanation of the Union’s role, by means of the following statement:

‘The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas’.

(b)

for the actions and measures financed by LEADER, the LEADER logo:

++ LEADER logo++

2. Information and communication material

Publications (such as booklets, leaflets and newsletters) and posters about measures and actions co-financed by the EAFRD shall contain a clear indication on the title page of the Union’s participation, as well as the Union’s emblem if a national or regional emblem is also used. Publications shall include references to the body responsible for the content and to the Managing Authority designated to implement the EAFRD and/or national assistance in question.

In the case of information made available by electronic means (websites, databases for potential beneficiaries) or as audiovisual material, the first paragraph shall apply by analogy.

Websites concerning the EAFRD shall:

(a)

mention the contribution of the EAFRD at least on the home page;

(b)

include a hyperlink to the Commission website concerning EAFRD.