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
NameServicePurposeCookie type and duration
eu_cookie_consentCookie consent kitStores your cookie preferences (so you won’t be asked again)First-party session cookie deleted after you quit your browser
Ecsi, Eurostat-SearchFeedbackWebsite survey toolsStores 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
cck3Cookie consent kitStores your preferences for 3rd-party cookies (so you won’t be asked again)First-party session cookie deleted after you quit your browser
cck1Cookie consent kitStores your cookie preferences (so you won’t be asked again)First-party persistent cookie, 6 months
clima_surveyClimate ActionStores information on whether you have already replied to a survey pop-up – so you won’t be asked againFirst-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_sizeDEVCO companionStores the font size in which you want to read the content on the web page, following selection from the font-size menuFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
econt_resizable_widthDEVCO companionRemembers the width of the sidebarFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
econt_font_sizePRAG Practical guideStores the font size in which you want to read the content on the web page, following selection from the font-size menuFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
econt_resizable_widthPRAG Practical guideRemembers the width of the sidebarFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
escoLanguageESCO PortalStores your language preferencesFirst-party cookie deleted after one week
cookie-agreedSpeech RepositoryStores your cookie preferences (so you won’t be asked again)First-party persistent cookie, 100 days
confluence.sidebar.widthExtranet WikisPublic WikisRemembers the width of the sidebarlocalStorage, persistent data
dashboard.route.lastExtranet WikisPublic WikisRemembers preference for information displayed on the user’s dashboardlocalStorage, persistent data
tracesLanguageTRACES NT applicationStores your language preferencesFirst-party persistent cookie, 30 days
announcementTooltipIdsTRACES NT applicationStores information on whether you have already read and dismissed pop-ups – so you won’t be asked again.First-party persistent cookie, 365 days
debug-modeTRACES NT applicationFor technical problem investigationsFirst-party persistent cookie, 365 days

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.

NameServicePurposeCookie type and duration
MyECASDomainIdentity Management ServiceRemembers your domainFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
__Secure_CASTGCIdentity Management ServiceIdentifies your sessionFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
__Secure_ECAS_SESSIONIDIdentity Management ServiceIdentifies the current Central Authentication Service sessionFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
ECAS_PREFSIdentity Management ServiceRemembers your settings and preferences:user id, user name, acknowledged cookie policy, high contrast mode, privacy mode, view account details after login, last strength selectedFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
CASPRIVACYEURES The European Job Mobility PortalEURES Authentication infoFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
CASTGCEURES The European Job Mobility PortalEURES Authentication infoFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
EURES_CAS_LOGGED_INEURES The European Job Mobility PortalEURES Authentication infoFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
AUTHFood systems platformUsed to switch and authenticate between applications of Foods SystemsFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
SECTORFood systems platformUsed to switch and authenticate between applications of Foods Systems.First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
CFCASCOUNTPPPADMINPPP platformCookie to limit the number of failed login attemptsFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
ecasSTFood Systems Common Authorization ProcedureMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
ecasUserFood Systems Common Authorization ProcedureMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
userRolesFood Systems Common Authorization ProcedureStores the user roleFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
CFCASCOUNTADNSADNS platformCookie to limit the number of failed login attemptsFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
_WL_AUTHCOOKIE_TNTSESSIONIDWebLogic platformMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
_WL_AUTHCOOKIE_JSESSIONIDWebLogic platformMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
UserProfileRasffWebLogic platformStores the user profileFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
_WL_AUTHCOOKIE_SAAASIISessionWebLogic platformMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
moviedb_sessionCreative Europe MEDIA DatabaseMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party persistent cookie, 2 hours
CASAuthCreative Europe MEDIA DatabaseMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party persistent cookie, 2 hours
GIS_s-regio-gis3-p.net1.cec.eu.intP_SESSIONIDRegional Policyauthentication in order to use a servicesession id / Duration of browsing session
GIS_s-regio-gis4-p.net1.cec.eu.intP_SESSIONIDRegional Policyauthentication in order to use a servicesession id / Duration of browsing session
GIS_s-regio-gis3-a.net1.cec.eu.intP_SESSIONIDRegional Policyauthentication in order to use a servicesession id / Duration of browsing session
_socrata_session_idRegional Policy, Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment FundsMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitUnique 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_idOpen Data Portal for the European Structural Investment FundsMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitUnique 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_sessionOpen Data Portal for the European Structural Investment FundsMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitUnique 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_inOpen Data Portal for the European Structural Investment FundsContains 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).
connect.sidSANTE Data Collection PlatformMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
connect.sid.sdi-code-linkerSANTE Data Interoperability Code LinkerMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser

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

Technical cookies

NameServicePurposeCookie type and duration
has_jsCorporate content management platform, based on Drupal open source softwareDetermines 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 / CFTOKENJava IT platform / Coldfusion IT platformMaintain a secure session for you, during your visit.First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
Ecsi, Eurostat-SearchFeedbackWebsite survey toolsStores 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-idAudiovisual Service video playerEnables the player’s own analytics, currently not used.localStorage Key, persistent data
theoplayer-stored-network-infoAudiovisual Service video playerEnables the player’s bandwidth estimate to determine the best initial bandwidth and enhance the user experience.localStorage Key, persistent data
EURES_LF_MARKETPLACE_SESSIONIDEURES The European Job Mobility PortalEURES Session info for LiferayFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
EURES_LF_PLUGINS_SESSIONIDEURES The European Job Mobility PortalEURES Session info for LiferayFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
LFR_SESSION_STATE_xxxxxEURES The European Job Mobility PortalEURES Session info for LiferayFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
cck1atlassian-analytics.confluence.lockPublic wikisKeeps Confluence analytics disabledlocalStorage Key, persistent data
confluence.sidebar.widthPublic wikisRemembers the width of the sidebarlocalStorage Key, persistent data
browser-metrics-journeyPublic wikisIntended for features performance metrics, but remains disabled – no data is loggedsessionStorage Key, valid for 60 minutes
X-Qlik-SessionQlickSenseOpens and maintains an X-Qlik user sessionFirst-party session cookie, deleted after 30 minutes of inactivity
wtEtrans. Appended by the target translation language and a timestampeTranslationStores the translation of the page you requested so that you don’t have to wait when re-requesting its translationlocalStorage Key, persistent data
ApplicationGatewayAffinityAgri-Food Data Portalused by Azure Gateway serverFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
ApplicationGatewayAffinityCORSAgri-Food Data Portalused by Azure Gateway serverFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
EIPP_SESSION_IDEuropean Investment Project Portal (EIPP)User session No additional information storedFirst-party session cookie, deleted after 10 minutes (automatically extended based on user activity)
Vanilla / Vanilla-Vv / Vanilla-sid / Vanilla-tkESCO ForumMaintain login and operations on the ESCO ForumFirst-party cookies with various duration: Vanilla – one month, Vv – one day, sid/tk – session
EURES_XXX_SESSION_IDEURES The European Job Mobility PortalEURES Session infoFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
connect.sidNode.js application server with ExpresMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
PHPSESSIDPHP platformMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
CGISESSIDPerl/Apache platformMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
userSaasDataUser authorization serviceMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
applicationModeFood Systems Common Authorization ProcedureMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
X-CSRF-TOKENFood Systems Common Authorization ProcedureUsed to avoid Cross-site attacksFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
DPOReadFood Systems Common Authorization ProcedureConfirmation that the privacy statement has been read by the userFirst-party persistent cookie, 1 year
TNTSESSIONIDTraces new technology platformMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
SAASIISessionUser authorization serviceMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
SSESSxxxxSCICnet, Knowledge Centre on Interpretation, Speech RepositorySession identifier used by Drupal sitesSession cookie. Expires after the session is destroyed.
kci_stick_to_httpsKnowledge Centre on InterpretationMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
XSRF-TOKENCreative Europe MEDIA Database, NewsroomMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitfirst-party persistent cookie, 2 hours
socrata-csrf-tokenRegional Policy, Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment FundsMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitUnique 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_ackOpen Data Portal for the European Structural Investment FundsContains 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 FundsContains 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_previewOpen Data Portal for the European Structural Investment FundsTemporary flag to allow previewing changes to site appearance.true/false value / ephemeral
hide-clp-managerOpen Data Portal for the European Structural Investment FundsRecords 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_ackOpen Data Portal for the European Structural Investment FundsRecords 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-acceptedOpen Data Portal for the European Structural Investment FundsRecords 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_flashOpen Data Portal for the European Structural Investment FundsStores temporary user-facing notices as needed.json value / ephemeral
atlassian-analytics.confluence.lockExtranet WikisPublic WikisUsed for statistics only, in order to store statistics about Confluence usagelocalStorage, persistent data
atst.healthcheck.sensors.page-protocolsExtranet WikisPublic WikisKeeps Confluence analytics disabledlocalStorage, persistent data
confluence.sidebar.widthExtranet WikisPublic WikisRemembers the width of the sidebarlocalStorage, persistent data
dashboard.route.lastExtranet WikisPublic WikisRemembers preference for information displayed on the user’s dashboardlocalStorage, persistent data
browser-metrics-journeyExtranet WikisPublic WikisIntended for features performance metrics, but remains disabled – no data is loggedsessionStorage Key, valid for 60 minutes
MDR-EUDAMED-APPMDR EudamedMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
newsroom_sessionNewsroom, PHPMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
newsroom_session2Newsroom, PHP – loadbalancerMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
connect.sid.sdi-ddymSDI Data Dictionary MakerMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
ETX_JSIDTrusted Exchange PlatformMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
gisco-waf-prod-affinityGeographic information system of the EC (GISCO)used by Azure Gateway serverFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
gisco-waf-prod-affinityCORSGeographic information system of the EC (GISCO)used by Azure Gateway serverFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
ASM Main cookie TSxxxxxxxxJRC hosting infrastructureMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, 10 minutes
ASM Feature cookie TSxxxxxxxxdJRC hosting infrastructureMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, 15 minutes
ASM Frame cookie TSxxxxxxxxdJRC hosting infrastructureMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, 15 minutes
ASM Proactive cookies, TSPD_101 prefix or TSPD prefixJRC hosting infrastructureMaintain a secure session for you, during your visitFirst-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
dtLatCIT hosting infrastructureMeasures server latency for performance monitoring.First Party Session Cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
dtPCIT hosting infrastructureRequired to identify proper endpoints for beacon transmission; includes session ID for correlation.First Party Session Cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
RxvtIT hosting infrastructureSpecifies the session timeout.First Party Session Cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
rxVisitorIT hosting infrastructureContains the visitor ID to correlate sessions.First Party Session Cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
dtCookieIT hosting infrastructureTracks a visit across multiple requests.First Party Session Cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
dtSaIT hosting infrastructureSave user action names, such as Click on Login, across different pages.First Party Session Cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
dtValidationCookieIT hosting infrastructureUsed to determine the top-level domain.First Party Cookie, deleted after a few milliseconds; no expiry date set
dtDisabledIT hosting infrastructureDetermines if the RUM JavaScript should be deactivated due to cost and traffic control or overload prevention.First Party Session Cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
jrc_cookieF5Used to maintain your session secure during your whole visit.First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browser
TS#F5 (WAF/ASM)Used to maintain your session secure during your whole visit.First-party session cookie, deleted after you quit your browse

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 – either via the cookie banner you’ll see on the first page you visit or at Europa Analytics.

NameServicePurposeCookie type and duration
_pk_id#Corporate web analytics serviceRecognises website visitors (anonymously – no personal information is collected on the user).First-party persistent cookie, 13 months
_pk_ses#Corporate web analytics serviceIdentifies 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. And some services and functionalities may not work properly at all (e.g. profile logging-in).

Managing our analytics cookies

You can manage your preferences concerning cookies from Europa Analytics on the dedicated Europa Analytics page.