EU Legislation & Case Law

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

Capabilities

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)

Use code for both lang= and locale= parameters.

Document Types (Form)

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

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.

Method 2: EUR-Lex Document Pages (Advanced)

URL Patterns

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

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

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• Legal status: In force, amended, repealed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

Cross-Reference Verification

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

Types of References

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:

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

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

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.

Common References

Legislation

Key CJEU Cases

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

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.

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-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:

CELEX Format Reference

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

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