CELEX Numbers
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CELEX numbers are native to the EUR-Lex user interface.
Take the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as an example.
1.Location
1.1.Quick Search Result Box
Run a EUR-Lex Quick Search for: the GDPR →
The box for the document displays CELEX number beneath Latest consolidated version on the left.
CELEX number: 32016R06791.2.Document Page
Open the document page for: the GDPR →
The document page displays the CELEX number in the top left above the Regulation’s title:
Document 32016R0679The number remains as different tabs of the document page are clicked through in the sidebar on the left: Text, Document information, Procedure and Document summary.
The relationship of other EUR-Lex documents to the GDPR and these documents’ CELEX numbers are listed in Document information.
1.3.Document URL
The document URL contains the CELEX number as well. In the English version, the URL should start with:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32016R0679CELEX%3A is an encoded version of CELEX:.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32016R0679URLs also have a qid value at the end such as:
&qid=1234567890123This identifies the user query and is used for back navigation. It is not needed to open the document.
2.Construction
CELEX numbers have their own rules of construction:
3-2016-R-06792.1.Document Type
3- and -R- identify the type of document. 3 refers to legal acts and R to regulations. Types of EUR-Lex Document →
2.2.Date and Number of Document
-2016- refers to the year of adoption and -0679- refers to the number of the act (0-padded to four).
Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council…2.3.Constitutional Treaties
Most CELEX numbers identify individual documents. However, CELEX numbers in Sector 1: Treaties identify individual articles: CELEX number 12016E267 (Preliminary ruling procedure) →
Treaties as a whole are identified with /TXT in place of the article number: CELEX Number 11957E/TXT (Treaty establishing the European Economic Community) →