EU Legislation & Case Law

Access EU law directly. Search and retrieve Directives, Regulations, Decisions, Treaties and CJEU case law from EUR-Lex.

Capabilities

Action	Method
Search legislation/case law	EUR-Lex Search
Document info, status, modifications	EUR-Lex /ALL/
Procedure history	EUR-Lex /HIS/
National transposition status	EUR-Lex /NIM/
National transposition full text	Official National Databases (27 MS)

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Method 1: EUR-Lex Search (Semantic Search)

Best for: Finding documents by concept, topic, or keyword.

URL Pattern

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/search.html?scope=EURLEX&text=QUERY&lang=LANG&type=quick&locale=LOCALE

Languages (All 24 Official EU Languages)

Language	Code	Native Name
Bulgarian	bg	Български
Czech	cs	Čeština
Danish	da	Dansk
Dutch	nl	Nederlands
English	en	English
Estonian	et	Eesti keel
Finnish	fi	Suomi
French	fr	Français
German	de	Deutsch
Greek	el	Ελληνικά
Croatian	hr	Hrvatski
Hungarian	hu	Magyar
Irish	ga	Gaeilge
Italian	it	Italiano
Latvian	lv	Latviešu valoda
Lithuanian	lt	Lietuvių kalba
Maltese	mt	Malti
Polish	pl	Polski
Portuguese	pt	Português
Romanian	ro	Română
Slovak	sk	Slovenčina
Slovenian	sl	Slovenščina
Spanish	es	Español
Swedish	sv	Svenska

Use code for both lang= and locale= parameters.

Document Types (Form)

When reading search results, identify the document type from the "Form" field:

Form	Type	Description
Judgment	JUDG	CJEU/General Court judgment
Opinion of the Advocate General	OPIN_AG	AG conclusions
Directive	DIR	EU Directive
Regulation	REG	EU Regulation
Decision	DEC	EU Decision
Treaty	TREATY	EU Treaty
Proposal	PROP	Commission proposal

Note: Prefer broad searches WITHOUT FM_CODED filter to catch more results. Filter by reading the Form field in results instead.

Examples

# Broad search (recommended - catches all document types)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/search.html?scope=EURLEX&text=cookies+consent&lang=en&type=quick&locale=en

# Search in French
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/search.html?scope=EURLEX&text=protection+donnees&lang=fr&type=quick&locale=fr

# Search CSRD
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/search.html?scope=EURLEX&text=CSRD&lang=en&type=quick&locale=en

Pagination

• Page 1: No &page parameter
• Page 2+: Add &page=2, &page=3, etc.

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Method 2: EUR-Lex Document Pages (Advanced)

URL Patterns

Replace {CELEX} with the CELEX ID (e.g., 32016R0679).

Page	URL Pattern	Content
Full text	/TXT/?uri=CELEX:{CELEX}	Document text
All info	/ALL/?uri=CELEX:{CELEX}	Related docs, modifications, annexes
Procedure	/HIS/?uri=CELEX:{CELEX}	Legislative procedure history
Transposition	/NIM/?uri=CELEX:{CELEX}	National implementation (directives)

Base URL

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/{LANG}/{PAGE}/?uri=CELEX:{CELEX}

Examples

GDPR - All information:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32016R0679

Whistleblower Directive - National transposition:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/NIM/?uri=CELEX:32019L1937

CSRD - Procedure history:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=CELEX:32022L2464

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What You Can Find

/ALL/ Page (Document Information)

• Legal status: In force, amended, repealed
• Consolidated version date
• ELI: European Legislation Identifier
• Modifications: What acts modified this one
• Modified by: List of amending acts with dates
• Corrected by: Corrigenda
• Related documents: Annexes, proposals, opinions

/NIM/ Page (National Implementation)

• Transposition status by member state
• National measures implementing the directive
• Links to national legislation
• Transposition deadlines

IMPORTANT: EUR-Lex /NIM/ links to national texts often show "Texte non disponible". When this happens, use the Official National Legal Databases (see below) to retrieve the actual text.

/HIS/ Page (Procedure)

• Legislative procedure (ordinary, special)
• Commission proposal
• Parliament readings
• Council positions
• Final adoption date

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Cross-Reference Verification

EU law contains extensive cross-references. Always verify referenced texts to provide accurate answers.

Types of References

Reference Type	Example	How to Verify
Internal article	"Article 21"	Re-read the full text
External act	"Regulation (EU) 2016/679"	GoodLegal API or EUR-Lex /TXT/
Annex	"Annex I, Part B"	EUR-Lex /ALL/ page
Implementing act (Art. 291 TFEU)	"Commission Implementing Regulation"	EUR-Lex /ALL/ → "Internal procedures based on this legislative basic act"
Delegated act (Art. 290 TFEU)	"Commission Delegated Regulation"	EUR-Lex /ALL/ → "Internal procedures based on this legislative basic act"
CJEU case law	"Case C-xxx/xx"	EUR-Lex /ALL/ → "Affected by case"

Verification Workflow

Reading EU text
    │
    ├─► Found "Article X" reference?
    │       └─► WebFetch same document, extract Article X
    │
    ├─► Found "Directive/Regulation XXXX/XXX" reference?
    │       └─► GoodLegal API with CELEX ID
    │           OR WebFetch EUR-Lex /TXT/ page
    │
    ├─► Found "Annex" reference?
    │       └─► WebFetch EUR-Lex /ALL/ page
    │           Look for "Annexes" section
    │
    └─► Need related/implementing acts?
            └─► WebFetch EUR-Lex /ALL/ page
                Look for:
                - "Implemented by"
                - "Delegated acts"
                - "Related documents"
                - "Based on"

Using /ALL/ for Related Documents

The /ALL/ page shows the complete document ecosystem:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:{CELEX}

What to look for:

EUR-Lex Label	Contains
Legal basis	Treaties (Art. 290, 291 TFEU), parent legislation
Internal procedures based on this legislative basic act	Implementing acts (Art. 291 TFEU) and Delegated acts (Art. 290 TFEU)
Modified by	Amending acts with dates and affected subdivisions
Modifies	Acts that this document amends
Corrected by	Corrigenda (language-specific corrections)
Subsequent related instruments	Follow-up legislation, related acts
Affected by case	CJEU judgments interpreting this act
Consolidated text	Link to consolidated version with all amendments

Note: Implementing acts (uniform application conditions) and Delegated acts (supplement/amend non-essential elements) are often grouped together under "Internal procedures".

Example: Answering a Legal Question

User asks: "What are the penalties under Directive 20XX/XXX?"

Step 1: Get full text
        → GoodLegal API: "320XXLXXXX"

Step 2: Find sanctions article (e.g., Article 30)
        → WebFetch EUR-Lex /TXT/ page, extract Article 30
        → Found: "Member States shall lay down penalties..."
        → References Article 5 (obligations) and Article 10 (reporting)

Step 3: Verify internal references
        → WebFetch same page, extract Articles 5 and 10
        → Article 5: Main compliance obligations
        → Article 10: Notification requirements

Step 4: Check for external references
        → Article 30 references Regulation (EU) 20YY/YYY
        → GoodLegal API: "320YYRYYYY"
        → Extract relevant provisions

Step 5: Check /ALL/ for implementing acts
        → WebFetch EUR-Lex /ALL/?uri=CELEX:320XXLXXXX
        → Found: Commission Implementing Regulation 20ZZ/ZZZ
        → Retrieve and review implementing details

Reference Chain Documentation

When answering legal questions, document the reference chain:

**Question:** What are the reporting obligations under Directive 20XX/XXX?

**Answer:**
- Article 10: Notification within 72 hours
- Article 11: Content requirements (see Annex II)

**Internal references verified:**
- Article 5 → Scope of application
- Annex II → Notification template

**External references verified:**
- Regulation 20YY/YYY Article 15 → Definitions
- Commission Implementing Regulation 20ZZ/ZZZ → Technical standards

**Related acts from /ALL/ page:**
- 3 implementing regulations
- 1 delegated act
- 2 amending acts

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Decision Flow

User request
    │
    ├─► Full text needed?
    │       └─► GoodLegal API (CELEX ID or reference)
    │
    ├─► Search by concept?
    │       └─► EUR-Lex Search via WebFetch
    │           Read Form field to identify document type
    │
    ├─► Legal status / modifications?
    │       └─► EUR-Lex /ALL/ page via WebFetch
    │
    ├─► Transposition status?
    │       └─► EUR-Lex /NIM/ page via WebFetch
    │
    └─► Legislative procedure?
            └─► EUR-Lex /HIS/ page via WebFetch

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Parallel Search Strategy

For comprehensive research, launch multiple WebFetch calls in parallel:

# Search pages 1-5 simultaneously
Page 1: .../search.html?scope=EURLEX&text=QUERY&lang=en&type=quick&locale=en
Page 2: .../search.html?scope=EURLEX&text=QUERY&lang=en&type=quick&locale=en&page=2
Page 3: .../search.html?scope=EURLEX&text=QUERY&lang=en&type=quick&locale=en&page=3
Page 4: .../search.html?scope=EURLEX&text=QUERY&lang=en&type=quick&locale=en&page=4
Page 5: .../search.html?scope=EURLEX&text=QUERY&lang=en&type=quick&locale=en&page=5

Then filter results by Form field (Judgment, Directive, Regulation, etc.) based on user needs.

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Common References

Legislation

Name	CELEX ID
GDPR	32016R0679
AI Act	32024R1689
DSA	32022R2065
DMA	32022R1925
NIS2	32022L2555
Whistleblower	32019L1937
ePrivacy	32002L0058
CSRD	32022L2464

Key CJEU Cases

Name	Case Number	Topic
Costa v ENEL	C-6/64	Primacy
Google Spain	C-131/12	Right to be forgotten
Schrems II	C-311/18	Data transfers
Planet49	C-673/17	Cookie consent

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Output Format

Legislation

**Directive (EU) 2019/1937 — Whistleblower Protection**
Status: In force (consolidated: 25/07/2024)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019L1937

Modifications: 6 amending acts
Transposition: 27/27 Member States

Case Law

**Case C-311/18 — Schrems II**
Date: 16/07/2020
Topic: Data transfers, Privacy Shield invalidation
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62018CJ0311

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Error Handling

No Results

• Try different search terms
• Try both EN and User's language
• Use EUR-Lex Search as fallback
• Check CELEX ID format

EUR-Lex National Text Unavailable

When EUR-Lex /NIM/ links show "Texte non disponible" or "Text not available", follow the National Transposition Text Retrieval workflow below.

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Method 3: National Transposition Texts

Problem

EUR-Lex /NIM/ pages list national transposition measures but the links to actual text often fail ("Texte non disponible" / "Text not available"). The /NIM/ page provides:

• Name of the national measure (e.g., "Decreto Legislativo 10 marzo 2023, n. 24")
• Official Journal reference (e.g., "Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 63 del 15 marzo 2023")
• Transposition deadline

Workflow

Step 1: EUR-Lex /NIM/ Page
        │
        └─► WebFetch https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/NIM/?uri=CELEX:{CELEX}
            Extract: measure name, Official Journal reference, date
        │
        ▼
Step 2: Try EUR-Lex Link
        │
        └─► Click/fetch the link provided on the /NIM/ page
            (e.g., https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FR/TXT/?uri=NIM:202302012)
        │
        ├─► Text available? → USE IT ✓
        │
        └─► "Texte non disponible" / "Text not available"?
                │
                ▼
Step 3: Official National Database (see table below)
        │
        └─► Use the measure reference from Step 1
            Search in the official national legal database
            (e.g., Normattiva for Italy, Légifrance for France)
        │
        ├─► Text found? → USE IT ✓
        │
        └─► Not found?
                │
                ▼
Step 4: Web Search (last resort)
        │
        └─► Search for official sources using:
            - Measure name + number + year
            - Official Journal reference
            - Filter by official government domains (.gov, .gv, .gouv, etc.)

Official National Legal Databases (All 27 EU Member States)

Sources verified via N-Lex, European e-Justice Portal, and European Forum of Official Gazettes.

Country	Code	Official Database	URL
Austria	AT	RIS (Rechtsinformationssystem)	https://www.ris.bka.gv.at
Belgium	BE	Belgisch Staatsblad / Moniteur Belge	https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be
Bulgaria	BG	Държавен вестник (State Gazette)	https://dv.parliament.bg
Croatia	HR	Narodne Novine	https://narodne-novine.nn.hr
Cyprus	CY	CyLaw + Official Gazette	http://www.cylaw.org
Czechia	CZ	Sbírka zákonů / Zákony pro lidi	https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz
Denmark	DK	Retsinformation	https://www.retsinformation.dk
Estonia	EE	Riigi Teataja	https://www.riigiteataja.ee
Finland	FI	Finlex	https://www.finlex.fi
France	FR	Légifrance	https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr
Germany	DE	Gesetze im Internet	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de
Greece	EL	Εφημερίδα της Κυβερνήσεως (ΦΕΚ)	https://www.et.gr
Hungary	HU	Nemzeti Jogszabálytár	https://njt.hu
Ireland	IE	Irish Statute Book	https://www.irishstatutebook.ie
Italy	IT	Normattiva / Gazzetta Ufficiale	https://www.normattiva.it
Latvia	LV	Likumi.lv	https://likumi.lv
Lithuania	LT	e-TAR (Teisės aktų registras)	https://www.e-tar.lt
Luxembourg	LU	Legilux	https://legilux.public.lu
Malta	MT	Laws of Malta	https://legislation.mt
Netherlands	NL	Wetten.overheid.nl	https://wetten.overheid.nl
Poland	PL	ISAP (Sejm)	https://isap.sejm.gov.pl
Portugal	PT	DRE (Diário da República)	https://dre.pt
Romania	RO	Legislatie.just.ro	https://legislatie.just.ro
Slovakia	SK	Slov-Lex	https://www.slov-lex.sk
Slovenia	SI	PISRS	http://www.pisrs.si
Spain	ES	BOE (Boletín Oficial del Estado)	https://www.boe.es
Sweden	SE	Lagrummet / Svensk författningssamling	https://lagrummet.se

Country-Specific URL Patterns

Italy (Normattiva)

# By URN (preferred)
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:YYYY-MM-DD;NUM

# Example: D.Lgs. 24/2023 (Whistleblower)
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2023-03-10;24

# By Gazzetta Ufficiale
https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/YYYY/MM/DD/XXXXXXXX/sg

France (Légifrance)

# By JORF text number
https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT{NUMBER}

# By law number (search)
https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/search/all?tab_selection=all&searchField=ALL&query=loi+{YEAR}-{NUMBER}

# Example: Loi Waserman 2022-401
https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000045388745

Germany (Gesetze im Internet)

# By law abbreviation
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/{abbrev}/

# Federal Law Gazette (BGBl)
https://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav

Spain (BOE)

# By BOE reference
https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-YYYY-NNNNN

# By law reference
https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-YYYY-NNNNN

Netherlands (Overheid.nl)

# By BWBR number
https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR{NUMBER}

# By Staatsblad reference
https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stb-{YEAR}-{NUMBER}

Poland (ISAP)

# By Dz.U. reference
https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU{YEAR}{NUMBER}

Example: Retrieving Italian Transposition Text

User asks: "Get the Italian transposition of the Whistleblower Directive"

Step 1: Check EUR-Lex /NIM/
        → WebFetch https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/NIM/?uri=CELEX:32019L1937
        → Found: "Decreto Legislativo 10 marzo 2023, n. 24"
                 "Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 63 del 15 marzo 2023"

Step 2: Try EUR-Lex link
        → WebFetch the provided link
        → Result: "Texte non disponible"

Step 3: Go to Normattiva (official Italian database)
        → WebFetch https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2023-03-10;24
        → SUCCESS: Full text of D.Lgs. 24/2023 retrieved ✓

If Step 3 fails:
Step 4: Web search (last resort)
        → WebSearch "D.Lgs. 24/2023 whistleblowing site:normattiva.it OR site:gazzettaufficiale.it"

Regulatory Authority Websites

For implementation guidelines, interpretive guidance, and FAQs, also check the national regulatory authority responsible for the directive:

Directive	Topic	Key National Authorities
2019/1937 (Whistleblower)	Anti-corruption	IT: ANAC, FR: Défenseur des droits, DE: BfJ
2016/679 (GDPR)	Data protection	IT: Garante Privacy, FR: CNIL, DE: BfDI
2022/2555 (NIS2)	Cybersecurity	IT: ACN, FR: ANSSI, DE: BSI

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CELEX Format Reference

Legislation: 3{YEAR}{TYPE}{NUMBER}

Type	Code	Example
Directive	L	32019L1937
Regulation	R	32016R0679
Decision	D	32021D0914

Case Law: 6{YEAR}{COURT}{NUMBER}

Court	Code	Example
Court of Justice	CJ	62018CJ0311
General Court	TJ	62022TJ0354
AG Opinion	CC	62017CC0673