The Competitiveness Council (Internal Market, Industry, Research and Space) has formally adopted, at first-reading, a Regulation on the implementing and functioning of the .eu top level domain name.
The .eu domain is the EU’s top-level internet domain name under which any person, organisation or business based in the EU – and soon any European citizen living outside the EU as well – can register their own domain name.
.eu is seen as an essential building block for European online identity. As a result, it is important that its governance structures are up to date and future-proof. The aim is that the .eu domain can foster innovation and encourage European businesses and citizens to be active in the online single market.
A further aim is that the governance of the .eu domain is made more transparent by setting up a multi-stakeholder group to advise the European Commission on the implementation of the rules. Its members will include representatives from the private sector, civil society and international organisations, among others.
EU citizens will have the right to register a .eu top-level domain name regardless of their place of residence.
With nearly 4 million registrations, the .eu top-level domain is one of the largest international country code top-level domains.
Procedure and next steps
Following adoption, the regulation will be published in the EU’s Official Journal. It will enter into force 20 days after publication.
The rules will apply from 13 October 2022, except for the expanded registration options for EU citizens, which will apply six months after the entry into force of the regulation.
The reform is part of the EU’s Digital Single Market agenda.
