Cookie Policy

Last Updated: March 1st, 2024

What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files that a website stores on your computer or mobile device when you visit it.

• First-party cookies: These are set by the website you’re currently visiting and can only be read by that site. Additionally, a website might use external services that set their own cookies, known as third-party cookies.
• Persistent cookies: These remain on your device even after you close your browser, unlike session cookies, which are deleted once you close your browser.

Every time you visit the Commission’s websites, you will be asked to accept or reject cookies. The purpose is to allow the site to remember your preferences (like username or language) for a specific period of time. This prevents you from having to re-enter them as you navigate the site during the same visit. Cookies can also be used to gather anonymized data on how users interact with our websites.

How do we use cookies?

The European Commission’s websites primarily use “first-party cookies.” These cookies are set and managed by the Commission and are not controlled by any outside organizations. However, certain pages may require you to accept cookies from external services.

We use three main types of first-party cookies:

1. Visitor preferences: These cookies store your choices, such as whether you’ve accepted the site’s cookie policy or responded to our survey pop-up, ensuring you’re not prompted again.
2. Operational cookies: These are essential for certain webpages to function correctly and do not require your consent. Examples include authentication cookies and technical cookies necessary for specific IT systems.
3. Analytics cookies: These cookies help us conduct internal research on improving our services. They track how you interact with our site as an anonymous user, and the data collected is not shared with third parties or used for other purposes. Anonymized statistics might be shared with contractors working on communication projects under agreements with the Commission.

Third-party cookies

Some pages on our site feature content from external providers, such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. To access this content, you must first accept the specific terms and conditions, including their cookie policies, which we do not control. If you choose not to view this content, no third-party cookies will be installed on your device. These third-party services are beyond the Commission’s control, and providers may change their terms of service, cookie usage, and other policies at any time.

How can you manage cookies?

• Removing cookies from your device: You can delete all cookies from your device by clearing your browser’s browsing history. This action will remove cookies from all websites you have visited, but be aware that it might also delete some saved information, like login details and site preferences.
• Managing site-specific cookies: For more precise control over cookies from specific sites, check the privacy and cookie settings in your browser.
• Blocking cookies: Most modern browsers allow you to block cookies entirely, but doing so may require you to manually adjust some settings each time you visit a site. Additionally, some services and functionalities may not work correctly (e.g., logging into a profile).