WHAT ARE COOKIES?
A cookie is a small text file that a website stores on your computer or mobile device when you visit the website.
First-party cookies are cookies set by the website you are visiting. Only that website can read them. In addition, a website may possibly use external services, which also set their own cookies, known as third-party cookies.
Persistent cookies are cookies that are stored on your computer and are not automatically deleted when you close your browser, unlike session cookies, which are deleted when you close your browser
Each time you visit the Commission’s websites, you will be asked to accept or reject cookies.
The purpose is to enable the website to remember your preferences (such as username, language, etc.) for a certain period of time.
This way, you do not have to re-enter them when browsing the website during the same visit.
HOW DO WE USE COOKIES?
European Commission websites mostly use “first-party cookies”. These are cookies that are set and controlled by the Commission and not by any external organisation.
However, to view some of our pages, you will need to accept cookies from external organisations.
However, in order to view some of our pages, you will need to accept cookies from external organisations.
The 3 types of first-party cookies we use are:
store visitors’ preferences
to store visitors’ preferences; to store cookies to remember visitors’ preferences
to collect analytics data (about user behaviour)
To help us to analyze visitor preferences
These are set by us and only we can read them. They are remembered:
if you have agreed (or refused) to this site’s cookie policy
if you have already responded to our survey pop-up (about how useful you found the site’s content) – so you won’t be asked again
FUNCTIONAL COOKIES
There are certain cookies that we need to include in order for certain websites to work. For this reason, they do not require your consent. In particular:
authentication cookies
technical cookies required by certain computer systems
authentication cookies
The names of these cookies may change for technical reasons.
Technical cookies
Analysis cookies
We use them purely for internal research on how we can improve the services we provide for all our users.
a cookies simply assess how you interact with our site – as an anonymous user (the data collected does not personally identify you).
Also, this data is not shared with third parties or used for any other purpose. Anonymous statistics could be shared with contractors working on communication projects under a contractual agreement with the Commission.
However, you have the option to refuse these types of cookies – via the cookie banner you will see on the first page you visit.
Third party cookies
Some of our pages display content from external providers, e.g. YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
To view this third party content, you must first accept their specific terms and conditions. This includes their cookie policies, which we do not control.
However, if you do not view this content, no third-party cookies are installed on your device.
Third party providers on Commission websites
These third-party services are outside the Commission’s control. Providers may, at any time, change the terms of service, the purpose and use of cookies, etc.
HOW CAN YOU MANAGE COOKIES?
You can manage/delete cookies as you wish – for details, see aboutcookies.org.
Removing cookies from your device
You can delete all cookies already on your device by clearing your browser’s browser history. This will delete all cookies from all the websites you have visited.
Please note, however, that you may also lose some stored information (e.g. saved login details, website preferences).
Managing site-specific cookies
For more detailed control over site-specific cookies, check the privacy and cookie settings in your preferred browser
Blocking cookies
You can set most modern browsers to prevent cookies from being placed on your device, but you may need to manually adjust certain preferences each time you visit a website/page. And some services and features may not work properly at all (e.g. login to profile).
Managing analytics cookies
You can manage your cookie preferences from the cookie options widget at the bottom of our website.
