The Official Journal of the European Union stands as the official gazette for EU legal acts, alongside other crucial acts and official information emanating from EU institutions, bodies, offices, and agencies. This publication is essential for anyone tracking EU legislation and policy. Published typically from Monday to Friday, with urgent editions appearing on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays when necessary, the Official Journal is available in the official languages of the EU at the time of publication, currently 24 languages.
EUR-Lex serves as the digital repository for all editions of the Official Journal, dating back to the very first publication on 30 December 1952, which covered the European Coal and Steel Community. This extensive archive provides a comprehensive historical record of EU legal and official publications. The foundation for the modern Official Journal was laid with the establishment of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community in 1958. The Decisions of the Councils of the European Economic Community and of the European Atomic Energy Community of 15 September 1958 formally created the Official Journal of the European Communities, marking a significant step in the EU’s legislative transparency.
Since July 2013, the electronic version of the Official Journal published on EUR-Lex has been recognized as the sole authentic version with legal authority. This shift to digital authenticity underscores EUR-Lex’s pivotal role as the primary and legally valid source for the Official Journal. Further modernizing its format, from 1 October 2023, the Official Journal moved away from being a collated collection to publishing each act individually as an authentic Official Journal in PDF format. This change enhances accessibility and allows for easier referencing of specific legal acts. For more details on this format change, a video explanation is available here.
The Official Journal is organized into two main series:
- L Series – Legislation: This series predominantly features EU secondary law, encompassing regulations, directives, decisions, opinions, and recommendations, along with international agreements. It is the primary source for understanding the enacted legislation of the European Union.
- C Series – Information and Notices: This series includes preparatory acts, announcements, summaries of judgments from the Court of Justice of the European Union, annual reports from the European Court of Auditors, statements from the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions, and calls for expressions of interest for EU programs and projects, among other information. It provides insights into the broader context of EU policy and activities.
For deeper insights into the Official Journal of the European Union, including its structure, series, special editions, and authenticity, comprehensive help pages are available on EUR-Lex here. EUR-Lex remains the essential tool for accessing and understanding the Official Journal, providing unparalleled access to EU legal and official information.
