Almost every EU project that includes communication activities requires its own website. Managing authorities most often explicitly prescribe this as an obligation, and in some funds and programmes a website is a prerequisite without which certain communication costs cannot be justified. However, the mere fact that a project has a website is not sufficient. The site must be set up according to the rules prescribed by the specific fund, must contain all mandatory visibility elements and must be technically executed in a way that satisfies the standards applicable to publicly funded digital resources. Beneficiaries who discover this only during cost verification or audit face retroactive changes that are more costly and complex than correct setup from the outset.
Mandatory visibility elements under EU fund rules
Every EU project website must clearly indicate that the project is co-financed by the European Union. This includes mandatory display of the EU flag and the logo of the relevant fund or programme according to the graphic standards prescribed by the European Commission or managing authority. The size, positioning and contrast of these elements are not left to free interpretation but are defined by guidelines that vary between funds. In addition to visual elements, the website must display a standardised co-financing statement containing the project name, the grant amount and the name of the fund financing the project. Prolink knows the specifics of these requirements for different funds and programmes and implements them correctly from day one without the client needing to research the applicable rules themselves.
Multilingualism as a technical and content requirement
Many EU projects, particularly those involving international consortia or targeting audiences in multiple countries, require a website in more than one language. This is not simply a matter of translating content but also of the technical architecture of the site, which must support multilingualism in a way that is acceptable to the managing authority and simultaneously functional for users. Every language version must contain all mandatory visibility elements, and navigation between language versions must be clear and accessible. For projects under programmes such as Erasmus+ or Interreg, where multilingualism is not a recommendation but a requirement, Prolink builds the language architecture of the site at the technical design stage to minimise subsequent changes.
WCAG accessibility for publicly funded websites
EU project websites, particularly those financed from funds intended for the public sector or involving public institutions as beneficiaries, must meet accessibility standards according to WCAG 2.1 guidelines. Accessibility is not an aesthetic preference but a technical requirement that is checked during project verification and audit. This includes appropriate contrast between text and background, alternative texts for all images, keyboard navigation accessibility, correct heading structure and semantically correct HTML that screen readers can interpret. Retroactively aligning a completed website with WCAG standards requires significantly more work than when these requirements are built into development from the outset, which is why Prolink treats accessibility as an architectural requirement rather than a subsequent addition.
Content structure that reflects project activities
Beyond technical requirements, a EU project website must reflect the structure and objectives of the project in its content. Standard pages that managing authorities expect include a project description with objectives and expected results, a list of project partners with contact information, an overview of activities and their progress, a news or updates page, publication of project results and deliverables, and a contact page. Some funds and programmes also require mandatory publication of financial project data, reports or studies produced by the project. Prolink builds the content structure of the site according to the requirements of the specific fund and programme, in consultation with the project team about the specificities of each project.
Technical optimisation and long-term maintenance
A EU project website is not a one-time delivery that is set up and forgotten. Most funds require the site to remain active and accessible for a certain number of years after project completion, which means the technical infrastructure must be planned with a long-term perspective. Page load speed, mobile optimisation, security and regular content updates are factors that affect both the user experience and the acceptability of the site during subsequent verifications. SEO optimisation of project websites further increases the visibility of project results in organic search results, contributing to the dissemination objectives that are part of most EU projects. Prolink plans the setup of each site with these long-term requirements in mind, including a content management system that allows the project team to update content independently without technical knowledge.
Most common mistakes when setting up an EU project website
Experience with EU projects shows that certain mistakes recur regardless of the type of project or fund. Incorrect labelling of visibility elements is the most frequent oversight, including wrong logo dimensions, insufficient contrast or an incomplete co-financing statement. Lack of WCAG compliance is a problem that rarely comes to light until audit. A multilingual version that is not correctly implemented technically can cause problems when verifying content activities for target groups in partner countries. Content that does not reflect the structure and progress of project activities does not fulfil the communication obligations of the project even if the website technically exists. Prolink systematically checks all these elements when building and delivering every project website.
Why clients choose Prolink
Prolink builds EU project websites with the understanding that technical correctness and compliance with fund rules are not optional but a prerequisite for cost eligibility and successful project closure. The combination of experience with the rules of different funds and programmes and technical competence in website development means the client receives a site that is functional, visually high quality and compliant with all applicable requirements from day one. If you are preparing an EU project and need a website that will meet all the technical and administrative requirements of the fund, or have an existing project website and are unsure whether it is correctly set up, get in touch and let us check together.