Cookies

What are cookies?

A cookie is a small text file that a website stores on your computer or mobile device when you visit the site.

  • First party cookies are cookies set by the website you’re visiting. Only that website can read them. In addition, a website might potentially use external services, which also set their own cookies, known as third-party cookies.
  • Persistent cookies are cookies saved on your computer and that are not deleted automatically when you quit your browser, unlike a session cookie, which is deleted when you quit your browser.

Every time you visit the Commission’s websites, you will be prompted to accept or refuse cookies.

The purpose is to enable the site to remember your preferences (such as user name, language, etc.) for a certain period of time.

That way, you don’t have to re-enter them when browsing around the site during the same visit.

Cookies can also be used to establish anonymised statistics about the browsing experience on our sites.

How do we use cookies?

European Commission websites mostly use “first-party cookies”. These are cookies set and controlled by the Commission, not by any external organisation.

However, to view some of our pages, you will have to accept cookies from external organisations.  

The 3 types of first-party cookie we use are to:

  • store visitor preferences
  • make our websites operational
  • gather analytics data (about user behaviour)

Visitor preferences

These are set by us and only we can read them. They remember:

  • if you have agreed to (or refused) this site’s cookie policy
  • if you have already replied to our survey pop-up (about how helpful the site content was) – so you won’t be asked again
  • First party cookies are cookies set by the website you’re visiting. Only that website can read them. In addition, a website might potentially use external services, which also set their own cookies, known as third-party cookies.
  • Persistent cookies are cookies saved on your computer and that are not deleted automatically when you quit your browser, unlike a session cookie, which is deleted when you quit your browser.

Every time you visit the Commission’s websites, you will be prompted to accept or refuse cookies.

The purpose is to enable the site to remember your preferences (such as user name, language, etc.) for a certain period of time.

That way, you don’t have to re-enter them when browsing around the site during the same visit.

Cookies can also be used to establish anonymised statistics about the browsing experience on our sites.

 

Name Service Purpose Cookie type and duration
eu_cookie_consent Cookie consent kit Stores your cookie preferences (so you won’t be asked again) First-party session cookie deleted after you quit your browser
ecsi Website survey tools Stores information on whether you have already replied to a survey pop-up – so you won't be asked again. First-party persistent cookie, 1 month
cck3 Cookie consent kit Stores your preferences for 3rd-party cookies (so you won't be asked again) First-party session cookie deleted after you quit your browser
cck1 Cookie consent kit Stores your cookie preferences (so you won’t be asked again) First-party persistent cookie, 6 months
clima_survey Climate Action Stores information on whether you have already replied to a survey pop-up – so you won't be asked again First-party persistent cookie, deleted after 1 day after you close the survey popup
Deleted after 1 year if you respond or ask to not answer the survey
econt_font_size DEVCO companion Stores the font size in which you want to read the content on the web page, following selection from the font-size menu First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
econt_resizable_width DEVCO companion Remembers the width of the sidebar First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
econt_font_size PRAG Practical guide Stores the font size in which you want to read the content on the web page, following selection from the font-size menu First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
econt_resizable_width PRAG Practical guide Remembers the width of the sidebar First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
escoLanguage ESCO Portal Stores your language preferences First-party cookie deleted after one week
cookie-agreed Speech Repository Stores your cookie preferences (so you won’t be asked again) First-party persistent cookie, 100 days
confluence.sidebar.width

Extranet Wikis

Public Wikis
Remembers the width of the sidebar localStorage, persistent data
dashboard.route.last

Extranet Wikis

Public Wikis
Remembers preference for information displayed on the user's dashboard localStorage, persistent data

Operational cookies

There are some cookies that we have to include in order for certain web pages to function. For this reason, they do not require your consent. In particular:

  • authentication cookies
  • technical cookies required by certain IT systems

Authentication cookies

These are stored when you log in to a Commission site, using our authentication service (EU Login). When you do this, you accept the associated privacy policy.

Name Service Purpose Cookie type and duration
MyECASDomain Identity Management Service Remembers your domain First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
__Secure_CASTGC Identity Management Service Identifies your session First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
__Secure_ECAS_SESSIONID Identity Management Service Identifies the current Central Authentication Service session First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
ECAS_PREFS Identity Management Service

Remembers your settings and preferences:

user id, user name, acknowledged cookie policy, high contrast mode, privacy mode, view account details after login, last strength selected
First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
CASPRIVACY

EURES The European Job Mobility Portal

EURES Authentication info First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
CASTGC

EURES The European Job Mobility Portal

EURES Authentication info First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
EURES_CAS_LOGGED_IN

EURES The European Job Mobility Portal

EURES Authentication info First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
AUTH Food systems platform Used to switch and authenticate between applications of Foods Systems First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
SECTOR Food systems platform Used to switch and authenticate between applications of Foods Systems. First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
CFCASCOUNTPPPADMIN PPP platform Cookie to limit the number of failed login attempts First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
ecasST Food Systems Common Authorization Procedure Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
ecasUser Food Systems Common Authorization Procedure Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
userRoles Food Systems Common Authorization Procedure Stores the user role First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
CFCASCOUNTADNS ADNS platform Cookie to limit the number of failed login attempts First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
_WL_AUTHCOOKIE_TNTSESSIONID WebLogic platform Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
_WL_AUTHCOOKIE_JSESSIONID WebLogic platform Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
UserProfileRasff WebLogic platform Stores the user profile First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
_WL_AUTHCOOKIE_SAAASIISession WebLogic platform Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser

moviedb_session

Creative Europe MEDIA Database Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit First-party persistent cookie, 2 hours

CASAuth

Creative Europe MEDIA Database

Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit

First-party persistent cookie, 2 hours
GIS_s-regio-gis3-p.net1.cec.eu.intP_SESSIONID Regional Policy authentication in order to use a service session id / Duration of browsing session
GIS_s-regio-gis4-p.net1.cec.eu.intP_SESSIONID Regional Policy authentication in order to use a service session id / Duration of browsing session
GIS_s-regio-gis3-a.net1.cec.eu.intP_SESSIONID Regional Policy authentication in order to use a service session id / Duration of browsing session
_socrata_session_id Regional Policy, Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment Funds Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit Unique random value is stored at the start of the session for the purposes of recognizing subsequent visits by the same person for the duration of the logged in session. / Session can be either 6 hours (the default value) or 15 minutes (configurable per-domain).
_core_session_id Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment Funds Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit Unique random value is stored at the start of the session for the purposes of recognizing subsequent visits by the same person for the duration of the logged in session. / Session can be either 6 hours (the default value) or 15 minutes (configurable per-domain).
_storyteller_session Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment Funds Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit Unique random value is stored at the start of the session for the purposes of recognizing subsequent visits by the same person for the duration of the logged in session. / Session can be either 6 hours (the default value) or 15 minutes (configurable per-domain).
logged_in Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment Funds Contains an indicator whether the user in the current session has logged in. true/false value / Session can be either 6 hours (the default value) or 15 minutes (configurable per-domain).

The names of these cookies may change, for technical reasons (particularly __Secure-CASTGC and __Secure-ECAS_SESSIONID).

 

Technical cookies

Name Service Purpose Cookie type and duration
has_js Corporate content management platform, based on Drupal open source software

Determines whether Javascript is enabled in your browser.

This allows our websites to function properly.
First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
JSESSIONID / CFID / CFTOKEN Java IT platform / Coldfusion IT platform Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit. First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
ecsi Website survey tools Stores information on whether you have already replied to a survey pop-up – so you won't be asked again.

First-party persistent cookie, 1 month

theoplayer-session-id Audiovisual Service video player Enables the player’s own analytics, currently not used. localStorage Key, persistent data
theoplayer-stored-network-info Audiovisual Service video player Enables the player’s bandwidth estimate to determine the best initial bandwidth and enhance the user experience.

localStorage Key, persistent data

EURES_LF_MARKETPLACE_SESSIONID

EURES The European Job Mobility Portal

EURES Session info for Liferay First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
EURES_LF_PLUGINS_SESSIONID

EURES The European Job Mobility Portal

EURES Session info for Liferay First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
LFR_SESSION_STATE_xxxxx

EURES The European Job Mobility Portal

EURES Session info for Liferay First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
cck1atlassian-analytics.confluence.lock Public wikis Keeps Confluence analytics disabled

localStorage Key, persistent data

confluence.sidebar.width Public wikis Remembers the width of the sidebar

localStorage Key, persistent data

browser-metrics-journey Public wikis Intended for features performance metrics, but remains disabled - no data is logged sessionStorage Key, valid for 60 minutes
X-Qlik-Session QlickSense Opens and maintains an X-Qlik user session First-party session cookie, deleted after 30 minutes of inactivity
wtEtrans. Appended by the target translation language and a timestamp eTranslation Stores the translation of the page you requested so that you don't have to wait when re-requesting its translation localStorage Key, persistent data
ApplicationGatewayAffinity Agri-Food Data Portal used by Azure Gateway server First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
ApplicationGatewayAffinityCORS Agri-Food Data Portal used by Azure Gateway server First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
EIPP_SESSION_ID European Investment Project Portal (EIPP) User session No additional information stored First-party session cookie, deleted after 10 minutes (automatically extended based on user activity)
Vanilla / Vanilla-Vv / Vanilla-sid / Vanilla-tk ESCO Forum Maintain login and operations on the ESCO Forum First-party cookies with various duration: Vanilla - one month, Vv - one day, sid/tk - session
EURES_XXX_SESSION_ID EURES The European Job Mobility Portal EURES Session info First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
connect.sid Node.js application server with Expres Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
PHPSESSID PHP platform Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
CGISESSID Perl/Apache platform Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
userSaasData User authorization service Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
applicationMode Food Systems Common Authorization Procedure Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
X-CSRF-TOKEN Food Systems Common Authorization Procedure Used to avoid Cross-site attacks First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
DPORead Food Systems Common Authorization Procedure Confirmation that the privacy statement has been read by the user First-party persistent cookie, 1 year
TNTSESSIONID Traces new technology platform Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
SAASIISession User authorization service Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
SSESSxxxx SCICnet, Knowledge Centre on Interpretation, Speech Repository Session identifier used by Drupal sites Session cookie. Expires after the session is destroyed.
kci_stick_to_https Knowledge Centre on Interpretation Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
XSRF-TOKEN

Creative Europe MEDIA Database

Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit first-party persistent cookie, 2 hours
socrata-csrf-token Regional Policy, Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment Funds Maintain a secure session for you, during your visit Unique random value is stored at the start of the session for the purposes of recognizing subsequent visits by the same person for the duration of the logged in session. / Session can be either 6 hours (the default value) or 15 minutes (configurable per-domain).
maintenance_ack Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment Funds Contains an indicator whether the user in the current session has dismissed a maintenance notice. true/false value / Session can be either 6 hours (the default value) or 15 minutes (configurable per-domain).
renderTrackingId_# Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment Funds Contains an arbitrary integer value for determining when asynchronous page rendering has completed for the purposes of snapshotting the page. arbitrary integer value / 1 hour
socrata_site_chrome_preview Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment Funds Temporary flag to allow previewing changes to site appearance. true/false value / ephemeral
hide-clp-manager Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment Funds Records the user preference to dismiss the link to the Catalog Landing Page manager. true/false value / Session can be either 6 hours (the default value) or 15 minutes (configurable per-domain).
browser_ack Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment Funds Records the user preference to dismiss certain notices that appear on the platform, i.e. maintenance window notices. true/false value / Session can be either 6 hours (the default value) or 15 minutes (configurable per-domain).
socrata-login-modal-accepted Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment Funds Records the user acceptance of an optional pre-login usage notice that certain customer domains require. true/false value / Session can be either 6 hours (the default value) or 15 minutes (configurable per-domain).
js_flash Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment Funds Stores temporary user-facing notices as needed. json value / ephemeral
atlassian-analytics.confluence.lock

Extranet Wikis

Public Wikis
Used for statistics only, in order to store statistics about Confluence usage localStorage, persistent data
atst.healthcheck.sensors.page-protocols

Extranet Wikis

Public Wikis
Keeps Confluence analytics disabled localStorage, persistent data
confluence.sidebar.width

Extranet Wikis

Public Wikis
Remembers the width of the sidebar localStorage, persistent data
dashboard.route.last

Extranet Wikis

Public Wikis
Remembers preference for information displayed on the user's dashboard localStorage, persistent data
browser-metrics-journey

Extranet Wikis

Public Wikis
Intended for features performance metrics, but remains disabled - no data is logged sessionStorage Key, valid for 60 minutes

Analytics cookies

We use these purely for internal research on how we can improve the service we provide for all our users.

The cookies simply assess how you interact with our website – as an anonymous user (the data gathered does not identify you personally).

Also, this data is not shared with any third parties or used for any other purpose. The anonymised statistics could be shared with contractors working on communication projects under contractual agreement with the Commission.

However, you are free to refuse these types of cookies – via the cookie banner you’ll see on the first page you visit.

Name Service Purpose Cookie type and duration
_pk_id# Corporate web analytics service, based on Matomo open source software Recognises website visitors (anonymously – no personal information is collected on the user). First-party persistent cookie, 13 months
_pk_ses# Corporate web analytics service, based on Matomo open source software

Identifies the pages viewed by the same user during the same visit.

(anonymously – no personal information is collected on the user).
First-party persistent cookie, 30 minutes

Third-party cookies

Some of our pages display content from external providers, e.g. YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

To view this third-party content, you first have to accept their specific terms and conditions. This includes their cookie policies, which we have no control over.

But if you do not view this content, no third-party cookies are installed on your device.

Third-party providers on Commission websites

You Tube
Internet Archive
Google Maps
Twitter
TV1
Vimeo
Microsoft
Facebook
Google
LinkedIn
Livestream
SoundCloud
European Parliament

These third-party services are outside of the control of the Commission. Providers may, at any time, change their terms of service, purpose and use of cookies, etc.

How can you manage cookies?

Removing cookies from your device

You can delete all cookies that are already on your device by clearing the browsing history of your browser. This will remove all cookies from all websites you have visited.

Be aware though that you may also lose some saved information (e.g. saved login details, site preferences).

Managing site-specific cookies

For more detailed control over site-specific cookies, check the privacy and cookie settings in your preferred browser

Blocking cookies

You can set most modern browsers to prevent any cookies being placed on your device, but you may then have to manually adjust some preferences every time you visit a site/page.