CELEX Number
In Simple Terms
The unique identification number assigned to every document in EUR-Lex, encoding the document type, year, and number.
Formal Legal Definition
A standardized alphanumeric identifier used in the EUR-Lex database to uniquely identify legal documents of the European Union, composed of a sector number, year, document type code, and sequential number.
Practical Example
The CELEX number 32016R0679 identifies the GDPR: 3 = legislation sector, 2016 = year, R = regulation, 0679 = document number. The CELEX number 62014CJ0362 identifies case C-362/14 (Schrems I).
Why It Matters
CELEX numbers provide the most precise way to identify and retrieve EU legal documents. They are used in legal citations, cross-references, and database queries.
Common Misunderstandings
CELEX numbers are not the same as the official document number. Regulation (EU) 2016/679 has CELEX number 32016R0679 — the format differs.
Related Terms
How snowLEX helps with CELEX Number
snowLEX accepts CELEX numbers as search input, instantly retrieving the corresponding document with its full text, amendments, and related case law.
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