Notice
From release 3.3 onwards, the individual templates (Core, Standardised & Harmonised) can be found on the ECL as configurations of the structurally merged components (Site header, Page header & Footer), which now have a single, dedicated page. Concurrently, the EWG (Europa Web Guide) has also been updated to better accommodate information regarding the optionality of components & elements per site type. Please follow the corresponding links found in the table below for more information.
| Knowledge base | New location | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ECL (Europa component library) | EC Site header - Core config. | EC Page header - Core config. | EC Footer - Core config. |
| EWG (Europa web guide) | Guidelines for EC Core branded websites |
The core website minimises the duplication of content across the European Commission services. The site hosts general information shared with many different websites or departments. The core website is the hub for users to navigate to other thematic content and/or specific services such as web information system.
Anatomy
| Components | Mandatory | Optional |
|---|---|---|
| Global bannerThe global banner is the official EU stamp; the content on Europa comes genuinely from the EU | yes | no |
| Site header The core site header is present on every page. It communicates the European Commission brand and provides basic structure and guidance | yes | no |
| Page headerThe page header is composed of several mandatory and optional elements. See core page header for detailed information | no | yes |
| FooterThe core footer is present on every page. It provides supplementary information such as copyright, legal, privacy, social media, contact information and links to other important sections within the European Commission ecosystem | yes | no |
Do's
- make sure the pages contain all the elements in the anatomy table above
Don'ts
- do not replace pages within the existing website as this will create visual inconsistencies, this must be done at a site level
When to use
- when updating pages on the core site (first three levels of ec.europa.eu)
When not to use
- do not follow these guidelines when you are updating sites that fall under a different category of the Europa family