Question: Where can I find resources about the European Union?

Check out the MLaw Research Guide on European Union Law.

Court Decisions

Decisions from the European Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance are first published in French, the operating language of the Court, and in the language in which the case was argued. The Court translates all decisions into all of the languages of the Community, but it can take up to 2 years. The Library subscribes to slip opinions, in both English and French, for both courts. 

• Reports of cases before the Court of Justice and the General Court (Smith KJE 924.5 .R47x and online)
  • E.C.J.'s official reporter; Contains decisions and opinions of the Advocates General
  • Less current than unofficial sources
• Common Market law reports (Smith  KJE 923.7 .C66x)
  • Commercial source for E.C.J. decisions, also reprints national decisions
  • Much more current than official source
• European Union Law Reporter (fka Common Market Reports, Common Market Reporter) (Smith KJE 949 .E96x)
  • Looseleaf containing EC and national court decisions 
  • Excellent resource due to its currency

Digests

• European Current Law (Ref Coll KJC 30 .E97x)
  • Essential reference tool due to currency
  • Cumulated annually and published as European Current Law Yearbook (in Ref Coll also)
• European Law Digest 1973-1991 (Annex KJC 30 .E97x)
  • Commercially published selective index to cases
  • Precursor to European Current Monthly Law Digest
• Digest of case-law relating to the European Communities ~1981-1993 (Annex KJE 924.3 .D54x)
  • Four-volume looseleaf issued by the Court; official method for locating cases 
  • Due to its lack of currency, this source is best used for locating older cases

Legislation

• Index to the Official Journal of the European Union 1978-2012 (Smith KJE908.2 .I53 and Micro-10 S616)
  • A daily publication shared by the Community's institutions, it serves as the primary source of Community legislation
  • Access is provided through the Index to the Official Journal of the European Communities (SMITH KJE908.2 .I53), which appears monthly and is cumulated annually 
  • L series (Legislation): regulations, directives, decisions, recommendations, opinions (SMITH KJE 908 O34x) 
  • C series (Information and Notices): proposed legislation, draft legislation, communications, announcements (SMITH KJE 908 .I54)
• Directory of EU Legislation in Force (E-resource)
  • EUR-Lex page providing free and full coverage of proposed and enacted legislation
• European Communities Legislation: Current Status 1988-2001 (Ref Coll KJE 915 .E97x)
  • Lists amendments to legislation; also lists legislation that has been superseded or repealed

Electronic Resources

• The MLaw Library provides access to many E-Resources on the European Union. Find the listing on the E-Resources page in one of two ways:
  • Search Bar: Click the "Subject" option, and search for "European Union"
  • Browse: Click the "Subject" tab and choose "European Union" from the alphabetical list
• EUR-Lex provides free access, in the 24 official EU languages, to the authentic Official Journal of the European Union, EU primary law, preparatory acts (legislative proposals, reports, green and white papers, etc.), EU case-law, international agreements, EFTA documents, summaries of EU legislation, and other public documents.
• Eurostat provides statistics about European Union member nations
• Westlaw: under "International Materials"
• Lexis Advance: under "International"