2. Cookies – Definition and usage

Cookies are strings of text of small dimensions sent by websites visited by you and stored on your computer and on any device used for accessing the Internet (such as smartphones and tablets), and sent back to the same websites at your next visit.

Cookies can either remain on your device until you erase them or until your browser does (known as persistent cookies), or can expire once you leave the website or the browser session ends (known as session cookies). Similarly, cookies can either be installed by the website you are visiting (known as first party cookies), or can be installed by a third party like an advertiser or an analytic system (known as third party cookies). Cookies are used to carry out IT authentications, session monitoring and storage of information on the activities of users who access a certain website, provide a more personalized web experience and make the navigation faster and secure. Based upon the purpose of use, this Website uses the following cookies:

• Strictly necessary cookies: These cookies are necessary for the Website to function correctly and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the Website will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information, therefore it is not required to obtain consent for these cookies.
• Functional cookies: these cookies enable the Website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly;
• Performance cookies: these cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our Website. They help us know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the Website. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our Website, and will not be able to monitor its performance;
• Targeting cookies: these cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising;
• Social Media cookies: these cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the Website to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

Based upon the existing personal data protection regulations, it is not necessary to acquire consent from you for the installation of the strictly necessary cookies, used to browse the Website and its features. Strictly necessary cookies are used for the following purposes:

• to identify and/or maintain content that a subscriber or user enters during a session on a website throughout that connection (e.g. “shopping cart”);
• to connect the subscriber or user to services that require authentication;
• for user’s security;
• to perform a load balancing operation for a connection to an internet site;
• to maintain the user’s selections regarding the presentation of the website, e.g. language selection, search history storage.

When you visit the Website, you will be prompted to accept or reject cookies.