The preparation of a Communication Plan is the first requirement of Commission Regulation (EC) 1828/2006 setting out rules for the implementation of Council Regulation 1083/2006, laying down general provisions on the ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund. These Plans comprise the fundamental communication tool and should integrate the communication strategy that frames the objectives defined in this field and the information and publicity resources to implement said strategy - mentioning the groups at whom the measures are addressed, the administrative services or organisations responsible for their application, the budget to be earmarked for putting them into practice and the form of monitoring and evaluating them, both with respect to the visibility of the Operational Programmes and the role the European Union plays through the Regional Policy.
The 21 Communication Plans (ERDF and Cohesion Fund) were declared “approved” by the European Commission in late September 2008.