Official Journal of the European Union
Encyclopedia
The Official Journal of the European Union is the official gazette
of record for the European Union
(EU). It is published every working day in all of the official languages of the
member states
. Only legal acts published in the Official Journal are binding
.
It was first published on 30 December 1952 as the Official Journal of the European Coal and Steel Community
. This was renamed Official Journal of the European Communities with the establishment of the European Community before taking its current title when the Treaty of Nice
entered into force
on 1 February 2003. Since 1998, the Journal has been available online via the EUR-Lex
service.
The Journal comprises two series:
There is also a supplementary S series contain invitations to tender (see: Government procurement in the European Union).
Public journal
A public journal is a day-by-day record of the business and proceedings of a public body....
of record for the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU). It is published every working day in all of the official languages of the
Languages of the European Union
The languages of the European Union are languages used by people within the member states of the European Union. They include the twenty-three official languages of the European Union along with a range of others...
member states
Member State of the European Union
A member state of the European Union is a state that is party to treaties of the European Union and has thereby undertaken the privileges and obligations that EU membership entails. Unlike membership of an international organisation, being an EU member state places a country under binding laws in...
. Only legal acts published in the Official Journal are binding
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
.
It was first published on 30 December 1952 as the Official Journal of the European Coal and Steel Community
European Coal and Steel Community
The European Coal and Steel Community was a six-nation international organisation serving to unify Western Europe during the Cold War and create the foundation for the modern-day developments of the European Union...
. This was renamed Official Journal of the European Communities with the establishment of the European Community before taking its current title when the Treaty of Nice
Treaty of Nice
The Treaty of Nice was signed by European leaders on 26 February 2001 and came into force on 1 February 2003. It amended the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of Rome...
entered into force
Coming into force
Coming into force or entry into force refers to the process by which legislation, regulations, treaties and other legal instruments come to have legal force and effect...
on 1 February 2003. Since 1998, the Journal has been available online via the EUR-Lex
EUR-Lex
EUR-Lex is a service providing legal texts of the European Union on its official website europa.eu. Replacing the earlier service CELEX, EUR-Lex provides direct free access to European Union law. The system makes it possible to consult the Official Journal of the European Union and it includes...
service.
The Journal comprises two series:
- The L series contains EU legislation including regulations, directives, decisions, recommendations and opinions.
- The C series contains reports and announcements including the judgments of the European Court of JusticeEuropean Court of JusticeThe Court can sit in plenary session, as a Grand Chamber of 13 judges, or in chambers of three or five judges. Plenary sitting are now very rare, and the court mostly sits in chambers of three or five judges...
and the General Court (formerly known as the Court of First Instance).
There is also a supplementary S series contain invitations to tender (see: Government procurement in the European Union).
See also
- EUR-LexEUR-LexEUR-Lex is a service providing legal texts of the European Union on its official website europa.eu. Replacing the earlier service CELEX, EUR-Lex provides direct free access to European Union law. The system makes it possible to consult the Official Journal of the European Union and it includes...
- European Union directiveEuropean Union directiveA directive is a legislative act of the European Union, which requires member states to achieve a particular result without dictating the means of achieving that result. It can be distinguished from regulations which are self-executing and do not require any implementing measures. Directives...
- European Union lawEuropean Union lawEuropean Union law is a body of treaties and legislation, such as Regulations and Directives, which have direct effect or indirect effect on the laws of European Union member states. The three sources of European Union law are primary law, secondary law and supplementary law...
- Community acquis
- Public journalPublic journalA public journal is a day-by-day record of the business and proceedings of a public body....
- Federal registerFederal RegisterThe Federal Register , abbreviated FR, or sometimes Fed. Reg.) is the official journal of the federal government of the United States that contains most routine publications and public notices of government agencies...
(of the United States Government) - Official Journal of the European Patent OfficeOfficial Journal of the European Patent OfficeThe Official Journal of the European Patent Office is a monthly trilingual publication of the European Patent Office . It contains "notices and information of a general character issued by the President of the European Patent Office, as well as any other information relevant to [the European Patent...
- Publications OfficePublications Office (European Union)The Publications Office of the European Union is an interinstitutional office whose task is to publish the publications of the institutions of the European Communities and the European Union ....