The .eu top-level domain (TLD) is the country code TLD for the European Union (EU). A country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) is an Internet top-level domain generally used or reserved for a country, sovereign state, or dependent territory. TLDs work as part of the Domain Name System (DNS) of the Internet which assists in the translation of domain names into IP addresses.
The European Commission launched the .eu TLD on 7 December 2005, and it is managed by EURid, the European Registry for Internet Domains. Designed to serve users within the European Union, this specific TLD provides a domain that is not specific to a particular member country, thus supporting the idea of European citizens and businesses existing within a common European digital identity, as expressed on EURid’s website.
As with other top-level domains, to register a .eu domain name, a registrar must be used to make this process. The registrar will ask for certain information, which is then added to the .eu Whois database, a searchable database that provides information about the owners of domain names.
However, not everyone can register a .eu domain. Its use is restricted to companies, organizations, and individuals residing in the European Economic Area, which includes all 27 EU member countries, the United Kingdom, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway according to the updated eligibility criteria that went into effect following Brexit. Thus, this TLD carries the advantage of clearly identifying the establishment of the owner within this region and its adherence to EU rules and standards, potentially enhancing trust and credibility with EU customers.
As of August 2021, according to the Q2 2021 report by EURid (the .eu registry), there were 3.7 million .eu domain names registered. Some recognizable examples include that of the European Commission itself (ec.europa.eu), the European Parliament (europarl.europa.eu), and the European Central Bank (ecb.europa.eu).
Sources:
1. EURid’s website (https://eurid.eu/)
2. European Commission – Domain Names (https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/domain-names)
3. EURid’s Q2 2021 Progress Report (https://eurid.eu/en/news/eurid-s-q2-2021-progress-report/)
4. European Commission – Brexit Preparedness (https://ec.europa.eu/info/european-union-and-united-kingdom-forging-new-partnership/future-partnership/getting-ready-end-transition-period\_en)
