A new publication, including best practices and good examples for communicating operations of strategic importance, is made available for Member States, managing authorities and beneficiaries. The regulatory framework for the 2021-2027 programming period introduces a new feature for programmes across the EU, the so-called ‘operations of strategic importance’. With thousands of Cohesion policy projects funded each year across Europe, new provisions aim to highlight key and emblematic ones, and set the stage for them to tell the programme’s story and Cohesion policy’s contribution.

For this aim, the Commission publishes a toolbox on communicating operations of strategic importance, which includes an overview of programming requirements as well. The purpose of the document is to inspire and illustrate how operations of strategic importance can be used for raising awareness of Cohesion policy. It is based on discussions and a wide set of questions raised by Cohesion policy communicators during 2021.

The document is intended for Member States, managing authorities and beneficiaries. Member States and managing authorities are recommended to consult the toolbox when setting out and implementing operations of strategic importance, while beneficiaries can find inspiration through examples of communication actions.

Access and get familiar with the toolbox through the ‘How to communicate’ section.