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Valid European Law Reference Formats for J-Link
The items that J-Link can recognise include:
Document numbers
- CELEX documents
- COM DOCS
- Council Common Positions
- European Court cases
- European Union Decisions
- European Union Directives
- European Union Regulations
- European Union Treaty articles
Colloquial terms
- European Union Agreements and Conventions
- European Union Decisions
- European Union Directives
- European Union Regulations
- European Union Treaties
Publication references
Most of these references can be used with the Web version of Justis (with the Common Name field on the Search In EU screen, or with the J-Link button on the Document screen) and with Justis 5 CD-ROMs (with the Publication Reference button on the Quick Search tab on the Query screen, or with the J-Link button on the Document screen toolbar).
You can also use these references with JustCite, Justis Publishing’s legal reference search engine.
CELEX Document Numbers
Each document in CELEX has been assigned a unique document number (e.g. 31997L0044), which usually contains ten characters. This number is used in the various fields, databases and sectors in the CELEX database to identify and cross reference documents. Valid numbers include:
- 31997L0044
- 31986R3528-A02P3
- 11997D/AFI/CE
- 61994B0088
- 61994B0088(01)
- 61994B0088(02)
These document numbers are also used in the Section field of the Industrial Cases (Relevant Statutes) database.
Document numbers are constructed using the following format:
Sector Number + Year + Document Type + Document Identifier
Sector Number – (1 digit - 31997L0044) The first character in the CELEX document number, indicating the sector in which the document can be found.
Year – (4 digits - 31997L0044) The second, third, fourth and fifth characters in the CELEX document number are the 4 digits of the year of publication of the document, e.g. 1998.
Document Type – (1 or 2 characters - 31997L0044). The sixth (and sometimes seventh) character in the CELEX document number, always alphabetic, not numeric. For each sector, alphabetic codes have been assigned to various types of documents. The same code can have different meanings in different sectors.
Document Identifier – (normally 4 digits - 31997L0044) The four numbers following the alphabetic document type in the CELEX document number. This is an identifying number for the document (such as the Directive Number). For numbers with fewer than 4 digits, leading zeroes must be added.
Some documents in the Treaties database have document numbers that include forward slashes and that use alphabetic characters for the document identifier, for example 11997D/AFI/CE is a valid document number in which the document identifier is 'AFI/CE'.
Example
The CELEX document dealing with Council Directive 97/44/EC of 22 July 1997 has the document number 31997L0044, which can be broken down as follows:
3 | Sector 3 (Secondary Legislation) |
1997 | publication year 1997 |
L | Document Type L (EC/EURATOM Directives) |
44 | the identifying number of the document |
Full details of how the numbers are constructed can be found in the topic on CELEX document numbers.
Suffixes
Some document numbers include a suffix. Some suffixes indicate a part of a document, for example:
31986R3528-A02P3
means Article 2, Part 3 of Regulation number 3528 of 1986. Other suffixes indicate a series of related documents, for example:
61994B0088, 61994B0088(01) and 61994B0088(02)
are all concerned with Case T-88/94 in the Court of First Instance.
Wild Cards
You can use wild cards to truncate the numeric portions of document numbers, but only if you use the Form Search or General Search screens, for example:
3????R2027
You cannot use wild cards if you use J-Link.
COM DOCS – document numbers
References of COM DOCS (documents concerned with future European Union legislation) that J-Link can recognise include:
- COM (90) 132
- COM/90/0132
- COM/90/132
- COM 90 132
- COM DOC 90 132
- Com Doc 90/0132
- Com Doc 90/132
- com-doc-90-132
- COM (2000) 132
- COM/2000/0132
- COM/2000/132
- COM 2000 132
- COM DOC 2000 132
- Com Doc 2000/0132
- Com Doc 2000/132
- com-doc-2000-132
The elements of the numbers can be separated by space, hyphen or slash, and the alphabetic parts can be in upper or lower case. The digits representing the year can be enclosed in parentheses.
Years from 2000 onwards always have 4 digits. Years before 2000 originally had 2 digits and should have been converted to 4 digits.
The full text of these documents can be found in the Proposals database (Sector 5) in CELEX, and also in the Official Journal C Series database.
Council Common Positions – document numbers
References of Positions of the Council of the European Union on the Common Foreign and Security Policy that J-Link can recognise include:
- Common Position 2003 444 CFSP
- Common Position 2003/444/CFSP
- Common Position 2003/444/C.F.S.P.
- Council Common Position 2003 444 CFSP
- Council Common Position 2003/444/CFSP
- Council Common Position 2003/444/C.F.S.P.
Alphabetic characters can be upper or lower case.
For documents in which the year component of the number is before 2000, two-digit or four-digit numbers can be used:
- Common Position 1996 184 CFSP
- Common Position 96 184 CFSP
- Common Position 96/184/CFSP
- Common Position 96/184/C.F.S.P.
- Council Common Position 96 184 CFSP
- Council Common Position 96/184/CFSP
- Council Common Position 96/184/C.F.S.P.
- Council Common Position 1996/184/C.F.S.P.
The full text of Common Positions on the Common Foreign and Security Policy is included in the Legislation database (Sector 3) in CELEX.
European Court – case numbers
References of case numbers from the Court of Justice of the European Communities and the Court of First Instance that J-Link can recognise include:
- Case C-361/2000 spacer
- Case 361/2000 spacer
- C-361/2000 spacer
- C-361 2000 spacer
- C/361/2000 spacer
- C-361-2000 spacer
- C 361 2000 spacer
- C-278/2000 R spacer
- C-317/2000 P(R) spacer
- Case T-65/2000 spacer
- Case T-342/2000 R spacer
- T-65/2000 spacer
The initial “C” or “T”, the case number and the year can be separated by space, slash or hyphen.
Alphabetic characters can be upper or lower case.
Unlike most other documents in CELEX, 2-digit or 4-digit years can be used for years from 2000 onwards, as well as for years before 2000:
- Case 122/03 spacer
- C-122/03 spacer
- C-39/03 P spacer
- C-156/03 P-R spacer
- C-233/03 P(R) spacer
- T-19/03 spacer
- T-175/03 R spacer
- Case C-152/1997 spacer
- Case C-152/97 spacer
- Case 152/97 spacer
- C-152/97 spacer
- C-152 97 spacer
- C/152/97 spacer
- C-152-97 spacer
- C 152 97 spacer
- C-180/96 R spacer
- C-151/97 P(I) spacer
- Case T-179/96 R spacer
- Case T-179/96 spacer
- T-179/96 spacer
- T-179/1996 spacer
The full text of case reports from these two courts is included in the Case Law database (Sector 6) in CELEX.
European Union Decisions – document numbers
References of European Union Decisions that J-Link can recognise include:
- Commission Decision 2003/391/EC spacer
- Decision 2003/391/EC spacer
- Decision 2003/391
- Commission Decision No. 391/2003/EC
- Commission Decision 391/2003/EC
- Decision No. 391/2003/EC
- Decision No. 391/2003
- Decision 391/2003/EC
- Decision 391/2003
For documents in which the year component of the number is before 2000, two-digit or four-digit numbers can be used:
- Commission Decision 1996/391/EC spacer
- Commission Decision 96/391/EC spacer
- Decision 96/391/EC spacer
- Decision 96/391
- Commission Decision No. 391/1996/EC spacer
- Commission Decision No. 391/96/EC spacer
- Commission Decision 391/96/EC
- Decision 391/96/EC
- Decision 391/96
- Commission Decision No. 4031/88/ECSC
- Decision No. 4031/88/ECSC
- Decision No. 88/4031/ECSC
- Decision 88/4031/ECSC
- Decision 98/682
- Decision 682/98
- Council Decision of 23 October 1995, 95/487/EC
- Council Decision 75/364/EEC of 16 June 1975
The elements that make up the reference can be separated by space, slash or hyphen.
Case does not matter, so DECISION or decision will also work.
The full text of Decisions is included in the Legislation database (Sector 3) in CELEX. Decisions from Sector 4 are not recognised.
European Union Directives – document numbers
References of European Union Directives that J-Link can recognise include:
- Council Directive 2003/8/EC
- Council Directive 2003/8
- Directive 2003/8/EC
- Directive 2003/8
- Directive 2003-8
- Directive 2003 8
- Dir 2003/8/EC
- Dir 2003/8
- Dir 2003-8
- Dir 2003 8
- Dir/2003/8
For documents in which the year component of the number is before 2000, two-digit or four-digit numbers can be used:
- Commission Directive 1997/8/EC
- Commission Directive 97/8/EC
- Commission Directive 97/8
- Directive 97/8/EC
- Directive 97/8
- Directive 97-8
- Directive 97 8
- Dir 97/8/EC
- Dir 97/8
- Dir 97-8
- Dir 97 8
- Dir/97/8
- Dir/1997/8
The first word and the two numbers can be separated by space, slash or hyphen.
Case does not matter, so DIR, dir or directive will also work.
The full text of Directives is included in the Legislation database (Sector 3) in CELEX.
European Union Regulations – document numbers
References of European Union Regulations that J-Link button can recognise include:
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 2027/2003
- Regulation (EC) No. 2160/2003
- Regulation No. 2160/2003
- Regulation 2160/2003
- Regulation 2160-2003
- Regulation 2160 2003
- Regulation 2160 of 2003
- Reg (EC) No. 2160/2003
- Reg No. 2160/2003
- Reg 2160/2003
- Reg 2160-2003
- Reg 2160 2003
- Reg 2160 of 2003
For documents in which the year component of the number is before 2000, two-digit or four-digit numbers can be used:
- Commission Regulation 99/1963
- Commission Regulation 99/63
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 2027/97
- Regulation (EC) No. 2027/97
- Regulation No. 2027/97
- Regulation 2027/97
- Regulation 2027-97
- Regulation 2027 97
- Regulation 2027 of 1997
- Reg (EC) 2027/97
- Reg 2027/97
- Reg 2027-97
- Reg 2027 97
- Reg/2027/97
- Reg 2027 of 1997
The word “Regulation” and the two numbers can be separated by space, slash or hyphen. There can be other text between the word “Regulation” and the numbers.
Case does not matter, so REG, reg, REGULATION or regulation will also work.
The full text of Regulations is included in the Legislation database (Sector 3) in CELEX.
European Union Treaties – Article numbers
References of Articles in the European Union Treaties that J-Link can recognise include:
- Article 4 E.C.
- Article 4 EC
- Article 5 E.E.C.
- Article 5 EEC
- Article 6 Treaty of Rome
- Treaty of Rome Article 6
- Article 7 E.C. Treaty
- Article 7 EC Treaty
- Article 8 E.E.C. Treaty
- Article 8 EEC Treaty
- E.E.C. Treaty Article 8
- EEC Treaty Article 8
- Article 9 Treaty Establishing the EEC
- Treaty Establishing the EEC Article 9
- Article 10 Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community
- Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community Article 10
- Article 4 EURATOM Treaty
- EURATOM Treaty Article 4
- Article 2 Single European Act
- Single European Act Article 2
- European Coal and Steel Treaty Article 5
- Article 5 European Coal and Steel Treaty
- ECSC Treaty Article 7
- Article 7 E.C.S.C. Treaty
- Article 7 ECSC Treaty
References that contain some words between the Article and Treaty portions of the reference can also be recognised, for example the following references link to the correct records in CELEX:
- Article 177 of the EEC Treaty
- Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100
References to multiple articles are not recognised.
The full text of Treaties is included in the Treaties database (Sector 1) in CELEX.
J-Link can also recognise common names of Treaties.
European Union Agreements and Conventions – colloquial terms
The common names of European Union Agreements and Conventions that J-Link can recognise are:
Colloquial term | Document no. |
---|---|
Brussels Convention Convention de Bruxelles Enforcement of Judgements Convention Enforcement of Judgments Convention |
41968A0927 |
Agreement on the European Economic Area European Economic Area Agreement EEA Agreement |
21994A0103 |
First ACP EEC Lomé Convention First ACP EEC Lome Convention 1st ACP EEC Lomé Convention 1st ACP EEC Lome Convention Première Convention de Lomé ACP UE |
21975A0228 |
Second ACP EEC Lomé Convention Second ACP EEC Lome Convention 2nd ACP EEC Lomé Convention 2nd ACP EEC Lome Convention Deuxième Convention de Lomé ACP UE |
21979A1031 |
Third ACP EEC Lomé Convention Third ACP EEC Lome Convention 3rd ACP EEC Lomé Convention 3rd ACP EEC Lome Convention Troisième Convention de Lomé ACP UE |
21986A0331 |
Fourth ACP EEC Lomé Convention Fourth ACP EEC Lome Convention 4th ACP EEC Lomé Convention 4th ACP EEC Lome Convention Quatrième Convention de Lomé ACP UE |
21991A0817 |
Rome Convention Contractual Obligations Convention Convention de Rome |
41980A0934 |
Schengen Acquis Schengen Agreement Schengen Convention Schengen Treaty |
42000A0922 |
Community Patent Convention | 41975A3490 |
The full text of Conventions between Member States is included in the Legislation database (Sector 4) in CELEX. The full text of Conventions involving other states is included in the Treaties database (Sector 2) in CELEX.
European Union Decisions – colloquial terms
The common names of European Union Decisions that J-Link can recognise are:
Colloquial term | Decision no. |
---|---|
Conformity Assessment Procedures and CE Marking Rules Decision | Decision 1993/465 |
Overseas Association Decision | Decision 2001/822 |
The full text of Decisions is included in the Legislation database (Sector 3) in CELEX.
European Union Directives – colloquial terms
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The common names of European Union Directives that J-Link can recognise are:
The full text of Directives is included in the Legislation database (Sector 3) in CELEX.
European Union Regulations – colloquial terms
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The common names of European Union Regulations that J-Link can recognise are:
The full text of Regulations is included in the Legislation database (Sector 3) in CELEX.
European Union Treaties – colloquial terms
The common names of European Union Treaties that J-Link can recognise are:
Colloquial term | CELEX no. |
---|---|
Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community European Coal and Steel Treaty E.C.S.C. Treaty ECSC Treaty Paris Treaty Treaty of Paris Traité Communauté européenne du charbon et de l'acier Traité C.E.C.A. Traité CECA |
11951K |
Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community EURATOM Treaty Euratom Treaty E.A.E.C. Treaty EAEC Treaty Traité EURATOM Traité Euratom Traité fondateur |
11957A |
Treaty establishing the European Economic Community Treaty establishing the European Community Treaty establishing the EEC E.E.C. Treaty EEC Treaty Rome Treaty Treaty of Rome Traité instituant la Communauté économique européenne Traité instituant la CEE Traité C.E.E. Traité CEE Traité de Rome |
11957E |
Treaty establishing a single Council and a single Commission Merger Treaty Brussels Treaty Treaty of Brussels |
11965F |
Treaty amending certain budgetary provisions | 11970F |
Accession Treaty of Denmark, Ireland, Great Britain and Norway Accession Treaty of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and Great Britain Accession Treaty of Denmark, Ireland and Great Britain |
11972B |
Treaty amending certain provisions of the statute of the European Investment Bank Treaty amending certain financial provisions |
11975R |
Accession Treaty for Greece | 11979H |
Amending Treaty for Greenland | 11985G |
Accession Treaty for Portugal and Spain Accession Treaty for Portugal & Spain |
11985I |
Single European Act Single Market Treaty Acte unique européen |
11986U |
Treaty on European Union Treaty of European Union European Union Treaty Maastricht Treaty Traité de l'Union européenne Traité d'Union européenne Traité sur l'Union européenne Traité U.E. Traité UE Traité de Maastricht |
11992M/TXT |
Accession Treaty of Austria, Finland and Sweden | 11994N |
Amsterdam Treaty Treaty of Amsterdam |
11997E/TXT |
Nice Treaty Treaty of Nice |
12001C/TXT |
The full text of Treaties is included in the Treaties database (Sector 1) in CELEX.
You can also use J-Link to find and display individual articles of Treaties.
Official Journal C Series – publication references
Publication references for the Official Journal C Series that J-Link can recognise include:
- Official Journal No. C 231, 1996 spacer
- Official Journal No. C 231, 1996, Item 5 spacer
- Official Journal No. C 231, 30 5 1996 spacer
- OJ No. C 231, 1996 spacer
- OJ No. C 231, 1996, Item 5 spacer
- OJ No. C 231, 30 5 1996 spacer
- 1996/C 231/05 spacer
- 1996/C 231 spacer
- 1996 C 231 spacer
- 96/C 231 spacer
- 96 C 231 spacer
These reference formats will display a list of the items in the issue.
Punctuation is optional, and alphabetic characters can be either upper or lower case.
The full text of these documents is included in the Official Journal C Series database.
Other items that J-Link can recognise include:
- Case reports – publication references (not case names)
- Acts of Parliament – names
- Acts of Parliament – references
- Statutory Instruments – names
- Statutory Instruments – references
- Scottish Statutory Instruments – references
- Welsh Statutory Instruments – references
- Statutory Rules and Orders – references
- Human Rights – case law references
- Human Rights – names of legislation
8th July 2008