# EUR-Lex API

> EUR-Lex returns EU law articles and legal acts, available as a workflow and API.

EUR-Lex returns official text and key dates for a regulation or directive article using a law name or number and article number; language is optional. Search eu law returns relevant legal acts by topic, with optional filters for year, document type, and in-force status.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/eur-lex
- Handle: `@eur-lex`
- Category: [Legal](https://fous.com/tools/category/legal)
- Source website: https://eur-lex.europa.eu
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026

## Methods

### Get law article

Operation `get_law_article`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Get the official text and key dates for an article of an EU regulation or directive. Uses the latest consolidated version shown by EUR-Lex when available; application dates reflect the act’s general application date where stated.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `law` | string | yes | `"Regulation (EU) 2022/2065"` | Law short name, title or number, for example GDPR or Regulation (EU) 2016/679. |
| `article` | string | yes | `"14"` | Article number, for example 17. |
| `language` | string | no | `"French"` | Language name or two-letter code, for example French or FR. Defaults to English. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "law",
    "article"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "law": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Law short name, title or number, for example GDPR or Regulation (EU) 2016/679.",
      "examples": [
        "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065",
        "AI Act",
        "GDPR"
      ]
    },
    "article": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Article number, for example 17.",
      "examples": [
        "14",
        "5",
        "17"
      ]
    },
    "language": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "English",
      "description": "Language name or two-letter code, for example French or FR. Defaults to English.",
      "examples": [
        "French"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "law": "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065",
      "article": "14"
    },
    {
      "law": "AI Act",
      "article": "5",
      "language": "French"
    },
    {
      "law": "GDPR",
      "article": "17"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `link` | string | `"https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32022R2065#art_14"` |  |
| `version` | string | `"Original act"` |  |
| `in_force` | boolean or null | `true` |  |
| `short_name` | string | `"Digital Services Act"` |  |
| `article_text` | string |  |  |
| `celex_number` | string | `"32022R2065"` |  |
| `article_title` | string or null | `"Terms and conditions"` |  |
| `document_date` | string or null | `"2022-10-19"` |  |
| `article_number` | string | `"14"` |  |
| `date_of_application` | string or null | `"2024-02-17"` |  |
| `full_official_title` | string | `"Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digit` |  |
| `date_of_entry_into_force` | string or null | `"2022-11-16"` |  |
| `consolidated_version_date` | string or null | `"2026-07-27"` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "law": "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065",
  "article": "14"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "link": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32022R2065#art_14",
  "version": "Original act",
  "in_force": true,
  "short_name": "Digital Services Act",
  "article_text": "1. Providers of intermediary services shall include information on any restrictions that they impose in relation to the use of their service in respect of information provided by the recipients of the…",
  "celex_number": "32022R2065",
  "article_title": "Terms and conditions",
  "document_date": "2022-10-19",
  "article_number": "14",
  "date_of_application": "2024-02-17",
  "full_official_title": "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (Text with E…",
  "date_of_entry_into_force": "2022-11-16",
  "consolidated_version_date": null
}
```

### Search eu law

Operation `search_eu_law`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Search EUR-Lex legal acts by topic, ranked by relevance. Filter by document type, document year, and current in-force status. Short names and ELI links are included when shown in the search results.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `year` | integer | no | `2024` | Year the document was adopted, for example 2024. |
| `query` | string | yes | `"packaging waste"` | Words describing the EU law topic, for example packaging waste. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `5` | Maximum laws to return, for example 20 (up to 100). |
| `document_type` | string | no | `"regulation"` | Type of law to include, for example regulation. |
| `in_force_only` | string | no | `"yes"` | Return only laws currently in force, for example yes. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "query"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "year": {
      "type": "integer",
      "maximum": 2100,
      "minimum": 1950,
      "description": "Year the document was adopted, for example 2024.",
      "examples": [
        2024
      ]
    },
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Words describing the EU law topic, for example packaging waste.",
      "examples": [
        "packaging waste",
        "zzzzznotarealeulegaltopicxxxx",
        "artificial intelligence"
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 20,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum laws to return, for example 20 (up to 100).",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        5
      ]
    },
    "document_type": {
      "enum": [
        "any",
        "regulation",
        "directive",
        "decision"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "any",
      "description": "Type of law to include, for example regulation.",
      "examples": [
        "regulation",
        "directive"
      ]
    },
    "in_force_only": {
      "enum": [
        "yes",
        "no"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "yes",
      "description": "Return only laws currently in force, for example yes.",
      "examples": [
        "yes",
        "no"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "year": 2024,
      "query": "packaging waste",
      "max_results": 5,
      "document_type": "regulation",
      "in_force_only": "yes"
    },
    {
      "query": "zzzzznotarealeulegaltopicxxxx",
      "max_results": 5
    },
    {
      "query": "artificial intelligence",
      "max_results": 5
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `laws` | array |  |  |
| `laws[].link` | string | `"https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32025R0040"` |  |
| `laws[].title` | string | `"Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging wa` |  |
| `laws[].eli_link` | string or null | `"http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/40/oj"` |  |
| `laws[].in_force` | string or null | `"yes"` |  |
| `laws[].short_name` | string or null | `"Artificial Intelligence Act"` |  |
| `laws[].celex_number` | string | `"32025R0040"` |  |
| `laws[].document_date` | string or null | `"2024-12-19"` |  |
| `laws[].document_type` | string | `"Regulation"` |  |
| `laws[].document_number` | string or null | `"Regulation (EU) 2025/40"` |  |
| `laws[].author_institution` | string or null | `"European Parliament, Council of the European Union"` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "year": 2024,
  "query": "packaging waste",
  "max_results": 5,
  "document_type": "regulation",
  "in_force_only": "yes"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "laws": [
    {
      "link": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32025R0040",
      "title": "Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealin…",
      "eli_link": "http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/40/oj",
      "in_force": "yes",
      "short_name": null,
      "celex_number": "32025R0040",
      "document_date": "2024-12-19",
      "document_type": "Regulation",
      "document_number": "Regulation (EU) 2025/40",
      "author_institution": "European Parliament, Council of the European Union"
    },
    {
      "link": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32024R1157",
      "title": "Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on shipments of waste, amending Regulations (EU) No 1257/2013 and (EU) 2020/1056 and repealing Regulation (EC) …",
      "eli_link": "http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1157/oj",
      "in_force": "yes",
      "short_name": null,
      "celex_number": "32024R1157",
      "document_date": "2024-04-11",
      "document_type": "Regulation",
      "document_number": "Regulation (EU) 2024/1157",
      "author_institution": "European Parliament, Council of the European Union"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@eur-lex",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_law_article",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "law": "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065",
    "article": "14"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@eur-lex\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"get_law_article\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"law\": \"Regulation (EU) 2022/2065\",\n    \"article\": \"14\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@eur-lex",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_law_article",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "law": "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065",
    "article": "14"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/eur-lex`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `get_law_article`: Get law article. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `search_eu_law`: Search eu law. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-eur-lex https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/eur-lex --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## Use cases

- Find the text and key dates for a regulation article
- Search EU legal acts by topic
- Filter legal acts by adoption year
- Find legal acts currently in force

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this EUR-Lex tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a EUR-Lex account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from eur-lex.europa.eu when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

### What does a specific EU law article say?

Get law article returns the article’s official text and key dates. Provide a law name or number and article number; language is optional.

### Which EU laws cover a topic?

Search eu law finds legal acts by topic. You can also filter by document type, year, or current in-force status.

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