The top-level domain .eu

The .eu top-level domain (TLD) enhances the Union identity and promotes Union values online, such as multilingualism, respect for users’ privacy and security, respect for human rights, as well as specific Union priorities in the digital area.

The .eu TLD allows users to create a pan-European Internet identity for their websites and e-mail addresses.

With 3.72 million registered .eu domain names in October 2023, the .eu TLD is the 9th largest county-code TLD worldwide, enabling EU citizens and undertakings and organisations established within the Union to register a domain name. It is also used by Union institutions, agencies and bodies. The .eu TLD is available in every alphabet used throughout the EU.

The online environment, the market and the EU political and legislative context have changed considerably in the last 10 years, which led the Commission to modernize the .eu legal framework by adopting in 2019 a new Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2019/517 on the implementation and functioning of the . eu top-level domain name. Regulation (EU) 2019/517 replaced the previous framework by amending and repealing Regulation (EC) No. 733/2002 and repealing Regulation (EC) No. 874/2004.

The new Regulation (EU) 2019/517 is a lighter, more efficient and future-proof principle-based legal instrument. It aims at creating the overall framework for the principles, the vision and the administration and management of the .eu TLD, with more operational aspects being defined through delegated and implementing acts. The new Regulation, among the others, sets new eligibility criteria to enable EU/EEA citizens to register a .eu domain, regardless of where they live. It also creates a new governance structure, involving a separate multi-stakeholder body, with the goal of strengthening and widening input on the performance of the .eu TLD.

The Regulation (EU) 2019/517 entered into force on 18 April 2019 and is applicable from 13 October 2022. However, the registration of the .eu domain name for citizens living outside the EU has been applicable since 19 October 2019.

Under the Regulation (EU) 2019/517 the Commission had to adopt a series of implementing and delegated acts to implement the .eu legal framework. As a result, the current framework on .eu consists of the following acts:

• Regulation (EU) 2019/517 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2019 on the implementation and functioning of the .eu top-level domain name and amending and repealing Regulation (EC) No 733/2002 and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 874/2004
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/857 of 17 June 2020 laying down the principles to be included in the contract between the European Commission and the .eu top-level domain Registry in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/517 of the European Parliament and of the Council  
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1083 of 14 May 2020 Supplementing Regulation (EU) 2019/517 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing the eligibility and selection criteria and the procedure for the designation of the Registry of the.eu top-level domain name  
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1862 of 4 October 2022 establishing the lists of reserved and blocked domain names under the .eu top-level domain in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/517 of the European Parliament and of the Council

EURid — the Registry of the .eu TLD

On 25 October 2021, following an open call for selection and the evaluation of eligible candidates,  the European Commission adopted a Decision designating the European Registry for Internet Domains (EURid) as the .eu TLD Registry from 2022 to 2027.

EURid is a private, independent, non-profit organisation that has operated the .eu TLD under contract of the European Commission since 2003 (back at the time EURid was designated under the previous Regulation of 2002 that was amended and repealed by the new Regulation (EU) 2019/517).

EURid operates the .eu TLD independently from the European Commission, but under the rules and procedures contained in the EU Regulations, such as on the functioning and implementation of the .eu TLD in 2019.