We create websites according to European requirements
How should a project web page/website look?
The project web page/website is the main source of information for potential beneficiaries and citizens. According to the regulation, the website must be online no later than six months from the start of the first project, but for transparency reasons, the earlier it is launched, the better.
It is important to ensure that the website design allows for easy navigation. There is no single formula for this. However, there are some basic criteria to consider:
- Ensure easy navigation by harmonizing content, navigation hierarchy, and responsive design;
- Efforts should be made to make websites meet W3C accessibility criteria;
- Pages should display correct and easily recognizable navigation titles (and icons);
- Visitors should have a general idea of what they can find on a page even before clicking on any link;
- Mobile optimization.
What information should the project website contain?
According to the regulation, the homepage should provide easy and direct access to the following:
- A section presenting in simple terms information about the program to which the projects belong (e.g., POIM 2014-2020, PT 2021-2027, CEF, POE, etc.);
- Objectives and priorities, geographic and/or thematic scope, total allocated amount for each program;
- Approved projects (signed financing contracts) for each program;
- A page for each project within the program section, containing a project description, announcements, events, etc.;
- A section presenting project data and examples.
Other important information that should also be provided on the website:
- Contact details of the authority;
- Project documents;
- List of operations.
Moreover, the landing page should:
- Display the EU logo and (co)funding statement prominently, according to the technical standards in the regulation, without requiring the user to scroll down;
- Include prominent social media sharing buttons and links to program social media accounts;
- Ensure search functionality and/or easy menu navigation (site map).
If the Beneficiary has their own website:
1. Beneficiaries with their own website must create a subpage dedicated to the project where they post information about project implementation. On the main page, a banner/widget can link to the section/subsection containing the full project description. On the dedicated project subpage, announcements about the project status should be published, highlighting EU financial support. These announcements can also be shared on the beneficiary's social media pages. Announcements must include mandatory visual identity elements and links to MIPE/AM websites as applicable. For social media posts, links to program and MIPE accounts may be added. Beneficiaries implementing multiple funded projects can create a homepage button linking to an intermediary page listing all projects. The dedicated project page should distribute announcements/press releases for project launch/completion and provide updated information on project status. The description may include images, illustrations, infographics, presentation videos, or other graphic materials illustrating project progress.
- Official logos in full color (cover page/profile/website).
- Project description (project name, beneficiary name, objectives, expected results, total value, separately indicating EU co-financing, start and end dates, MySMIS or other unique project code) proportional to funding level, highlighting EU financial support, visible throughout the project duration until the end of the sustainability period on the beneficiary’s website and/or social media account(s).
- For social media accounts, the mandatory graphic elements must appear in the cover image, grouped/placed linearly, horizontally or vertically, without interfering with the profile picture. EU financial support must be prominently displayed in the "description" section of the social media page. A brief description of the operation can be displayed in the biography/profile description, proportional to the support level, highlighting EU funding, ensuring permanent visibility.
2. Websites created under European-funded projects/project dedicated pages within an existing site must display the mandatory graphic elements in full color (EU emblem with mandatory funding statement, Romanian Government logo, Program logo if available), visible at the top of the digital content without scrolling. It must contain a link to the MIPE website with the note: "For detailed information about other EU co-financed programs, please visit www.mfe.gov.ro".
3. Social media: Posts with project progress (activities and results) may also include beneficiaries’ experiences. If a beneficiary manages multiple projects, a separate post per project should be made, using the “pin” option to make it permanently visible on the main page.
Communication indicators (for the website) to be highlighted through periodically generated reports:
1. Number of visitors;
2. Bounce rate;
3. Number of page views;
4. Average visit duration;
5. Conversion rate: downloads, registrations, completed forms, etc.;
6. Overall usefulness of the website and/or page;
7. Traffic source (evaluating whether it comes from our communication activities or not);
8. Scrolling behavior: how much visitors read/scroll down pages;
9. Percentage of visitors with a more positive opinion about the website’s subject as a result of visiting the site;
10. Percentage of visitors who took action as a result of visiting the site;
11. Percentage of visitors who supported or spoke positively about the website’s subject or the EU as a result of visiting the site;
12. Percentage of citizens with a more positive opinion about the EU;
13. Accounts reached statistics [location, gender, age breakdowns];
Communication indicators (for social media) to be highlighted through periodically generated reports:
1. Number of impressions per post [compared to the average of previous posts]; [For Instagram Stories: impressions are views];
2. Number of video views on social media channels;
3. Number of hashtag or topic mentions on social media;
4. Follower growth rate;
5. Number of interactions per post and total [shares, likes, comments]; [For Instagram Stories: completion rate];
6. Engagement rate [interactions per impressions];
7. Cost per result [depending on objective - cost per click, cost per engagement, etc.];
8. Tone of comments / qualitative sentiment analysis;
9. Traffic to the website [conversions from social media];
10. Percentage of audience with a more positive opinion about the post subject as a result of interaction with the EC or its content on social media;
11. Percentage of reached audience who took action as a result of interacting with EC social media content;
12. Percentage of reached audience who supported or spoke positively about the post subject or the EU as a result of interacting with EC social media content;
13. Percentage of citizens with a more positive opinion about the EU.
