Information

1
Information PublicityTarget Group II A
Managing Agencies and Intermediary Bodies
(Monitoring Units)

• Richard Linning
• Fellow CIPR IPRA EUPRERA

2
The Task

• The managing authority is responsible to the OP
  monitoring committee for
• the communication plan and progress in its
  implementation
• information and publicity measures carried out
• the means of communication used
• evaluation

3
Minimum requirements

• a major information activity publicising an OP
  launch even in the absence of the final version
  of the communication plan
• at least one major information activity a year
  presenting the achievements of the OP(s)
• flying the EU flag, 9 May for one week
• publication of the list of beneficiaries, the
  names of their operations and the amount of
  public funding

4
In Practical Terms

• Conveying Information
• General public
• Potential beneficiaries
• Communicating
• Potential beneficiaries
• Beneficiaries
• Reporting
• General public
• OP Monitoring Committee
• Annual reports to the European Commission
• Networking
• Structural Funds Information Team (SFIT)

5
Conveying Information

• General Public
• what SF financing is used for
• in what way
• with what results
• Potential Beneficiaries
• about operational programmes
• the funds available
• how to apply for them

6
Conveying Information

• General Public
• Direct
• Advertising
• Indirect
• Media release/media conference
• Potential Beneficiaries
• Direct
• Advertising in the targets media
• Indirect
• Articles/interviews in the targets media

7
The Media Release

• In brief
• headline - concise, eye-catching
• introduction - the main point of the story
• the detail - written in a snappy style
• a quote - third or fourth paragraph
• further important detail two pages at the most
• Notes to Editors section - background details

8
Communicating

• Potential beneficiaries
• conditions of eligibility
• contacts at national, regional or local level for
  information on the OP
• the criteria for selection
• the procedures for examining applications for
  funding and of the time periods involved
• Beneficiaries
• information and publicity responsibilities

9
Communication Plan

• aims and target groups
• departments or bodies responsible for
  implementation
• strategy and content of the information and
  publicity measures
• indicative budget
• evaluation in terms of visibility and awareness

10
Communication Plan
11
Communication Plan II
12
Communication Plan III
13
Communication Plan IV
14
Communication Plan V
15
Communication Plan VI
16
Approval Time Table

• Submit Plan
• Within four months of an OPs adoption
• No Commission reply in two months
• plan can be implemented.
• Commission sends observations within two months
• a further two months to lodge a revised plan
• No further comment within two months
• revised communication plan can be implemented
• Information and publicity activities can commence
  without approval of the final version of the
  communication plan.

17
Indicative Timetable I
18
Indicative Timetable II
19
Reporting

• an important part of OP progress reporting
• http//ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoff
  ic/2007/working/wd5_ongoing_en.pdf
• Each year
• an annual account of activity, with examples of
  materials used and measures undertaken
• in 2010 and the final report a chapter assessing
  the results of the IP measures in terms of
• visibility and awareness of operational
  programmes
• the role played by the Community.

20
Networking

• Promotion of successful projects
• http//ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/visitors/newfo
  rms/stories_en.cfm)
• The Structural Funds Information Team (SFIT)
• a platform for sharing best practice animated by
  DG REGIO Information Communication Unit
• Regio-SFIT_at_ec.europa.eu