# 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/workflows/eur-lex
- Handle: `@eur-lex`
- Category: [Legal](https://fous.com/workflows/category/legal)
- Source website: https://eur-lex.europa.eu
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with EUR-Lex.

## Methods

### Get law article

Operation `get_law_article`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

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 | `"2016-05-04"` |  |

**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 call.

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

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_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.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

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=120) 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.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_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);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@eur-lex","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## 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

### Is Fous affiliated with EUR-Lex?

No. Fous is not affiliated with EUR-Lex. This workflow reads the public eur-lex.europa.eu website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. 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; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check 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.

## Related

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- [EU Sanctions Map API](https://fous.com/workflows/eu-sanctions-map.md): EU Sanctions Map returns regimes, consolidated financial listings, name matches and linked acts, plus country measures and available counts; linked acts may be later amendments.
- [Tenders Electronic Daily API](https://fous.com/workflows/tenders-electronic-daily.md): Tenders Electronic Daily provides recently published EU procurement notices, open tenders with future deadlines, and newest-first contract awards; values and deadlines may be absent.
- [Find Case Law API](https://fous.com/workflows/find-case-law.md): Search official UK court judgments and tribunal decisions from The National Archives.
- [Eurostat API](https://fous.com/workflows/eurostat.md): Official European statistics from Eurostat.
- [Federal Register API](https://fous.com/workflows/federal-register.md): Search United States federal rules, proposed rules, notices, and presidential documents.
- [GLEIF API](https://fous.com/workflows/gleif.md): GLEIF provides official global LEI search, returning entity records with freshness shown by last-update dates—not renewal dates—and reported accounting parents and LEI-registered direct children.
- [Reuters API](https://fous.com/workflows/reuters.md): Reuters provides international news and reporting, with latest section headlines and keyword search; coverage and article details may be limited by access restrictions and news indexing.
- [All Legal workflows](https://fous.com/workflows/category/legal)