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Justis 5 FAQs – European Law Databases
- Q – Why can't I use the Quick Search screen with CELEX?
- Q – How can I find a Directive in CELEX?
- Q – Can you explain how CELEX document numbers work?
- Q – Are consolidated documents available in CELEX?
- Q – How can I search for the Treaty of Rome in CELEX?
- Q – How can I find all Directives published within a specified range of dates?
- Q – How can I find a Directive in CELEX if I only have the OJ C reference?
- Q – How can I trace the progress of a piece of European legislation in CELEX?
- Quick Reference Guide - Understanding CELEX document numbers
Q – Why can't I use the Quick Search screen with CELEX?
A – You can use the Quick Search screen if you do not select the DTI Spearhead database at the same time as any of the real CELEX databases. The English CELEX CD-ROMs contain an extra database, DTI Spearhead, which uses fields that are not compatible with CELEX.
To remove DTI Spearhead, click the Database button in the toolbar to open the Select Database(s) dialog box, click on "DTI Spearhead" in the right-hand pane, and then click the Remove button. Click OK to go back to the Query screen.
Q – How can I find a Directive in CELEX?
A – Each document within the CELEX database has a unique document number, which usually contains eight characters or digits. This consists of:
Sector Number + Year + Document Type + Document Identifier.
For example the CELEX document dealing with Directive 93/13/EC has the document number 31993L0013. You can easily find this (or any other) document using the Justis 5 software.
On the Quick Search screen, click the Document Number button. Type either '31993L0013' or 'Directive 93/13/EC' and then click the adjacent search button.
Q – Can you explain how CELEX document numbers work?
A – The way that CELEX document numbers are constructed, and what they mean, is explained in Understanding CELEX Document Numbers on this Web site. It is also explained in the Justis 5 on-screen Help - look for CELEX, document numbers in the Index.
Q – Are consolidated documents available in CELEX?
A – No, the CELEX database does not contain consolidated documents, but it does contain references to sets of related documents which have been consolidated into one text. These references are contained in the PUBREF field and include the tag 'consleg'.
These consolidated texts are produced by the Consleg system developed by EUR-OP and are the result of work by EUR-OP on the transparency and accessibility of legislation.
CELEX consolidated documents are meant purely as a reference aid and the institutions of the Community do NOT assume any liability for their content. Nevertheless, they provide useful guidance to the current version of a group of directives and regulations which have, over the years, been heavily amended. Note that all consolidated documents are very long.
Creating a consolidated text involves physically incorporating all amendments, corrections, deletions and additions provided in the amending legislation to the original Act. The resulting document is then filed in electronic form in the European document repository archive file EUDOR.
In CELEX Sector 3, the flag "consleg" is present in the PUBREF field in all those documents affected by the consolidation process. These can be listed by the search:
PUBREF[consleg]
which, in July 2001, gave 2897 references.
The PUBREF field gives a reference number to the originating directive or regulation. This is in the form of the CELEX document number, but without the initial digit for the sector number.
For example:
DOCNUM : 31994L0060
PUBREF : Official Journal no. L 365, 31/12/94 p.0001 consleg - 1976L0769 - 31/12/1994 - 71 p.
The phrase "consleg 1976L0769" is the reference to use when requesting a printed copy from EUR-OP. It is clearly derived from DOCNUM 31976L0769 and a search on:
DOCNUM[31976L0769]
will supply the originating directive 76/769 (which will also have the reference "consleg 1976L0769" in its PUBREF field).
Thus the search:
PUBREF[consleg and 1976L0769]
will yield a list of 19 documents, 18 of which amend Directive 76/769, plus the original Directive.
The text of the consolidation is NOT in CELEX but can be ordered from EUR-OP at a cost of 0.5 ECU per page. The consolidated document facility is useful but should be used with some care. At present, it is only a document delivery service.
Note: For sets of related documents that have not yet been consolidated, continue to use the MODIFIES and MODIFIED fields to find all amending documents.
Q – How can I search for the Treaty of Rome in CELEX?
A – If the CELEX database is open, the simplest method is to use the Colloquial Terms button on the Quick Search screen. Click the button, type "Treaty of Rome" in the text box, and then click the adjacent Search button. A list of all of the documents that make up the Treaty will be displayed on the Profiles screen. You can also search for a particular article, e.g. "Treaty of Rome article 85".
You can search for many other treaties and directives in this way - look up "Colloquial terms" in the index of the on-screen Help to see a list of available terms.
If the CELEX database is not open, you can use the J-Link button on the Quick Search screen and follow the same procedure. The CELEX database will be opened for you.
Q – How can I find all Directives published within a specified range of dates?
A – In the CELEX database, specify that you only wish to retrieve Directives, as opposed to Regulations, Decisions etc., then specify the date range:
FORM[directive] and PUB[from 1 July 2000 to 31 December 2000]
Q – How can I find a Directive in CELEX if I only have the OJ C reference
A – If you want to find a Directive on electronic signatures but you only have the OJ C reference (98/C 325/5), you need to track down the Directive by finding the original proposal. We know the year and the OJ C issue number from the reference. Make sure that you are in the CELEX Proposals database, and then search for:
PUBREF[C 325 and (1998 or 98)]
If the document is not displayed, scan the list of titles to find the proposal referring to the right Directive, or alternatively add a keyword to your search. To locate the Directive, scroll down the document to the MODIFIED field, where you will see a red reference to the document which adopted the proposal, in this case 31999L0093.
MODIFIED ADOPTED-BY.... 31999L0093..........
Click the red reference with your mouse to link to the Directive.
Q – How can I trace the progress of a piece of European legislation in CELEX?
A – Directives, Regulations, Treaties and other EU documents go through several stages before they reach their final form. With one of these documents (or one of its earlier stages) open on the Document screen, click the Crossref button on the toolbar to open the Cross References dialog box. If the button is not active, then there are no preceding or subsequent documents.
The J-View tab provides a graphical, navigable display of documents that modify or are modified by the document you are reading. The same information is provided in a non-graphical form on the Preceding and Subsequent tabs.
4th October 2006
