The accreditation of Registrars began the 16^th of June. The list of accredited Registrars is available here

We are aiming to launch the sunrise period before the end of 2005. The general registrants will be able to register their domain name after the 4 month sunrise Period.

We have made a tentative timetable setting out the key tasks to be done and estimating when each stage will take after the contract is complete

The EC Regulation No 733/2002 of 22 April 2002 on the implementation of the .eu Top Level Domain determines who will be allowed to apply for a .eu domain name.

The following categories of companies, organisations and individuals will be able to register a .eu domain:

• undertakings having their registered office, central administration or principal place of business within the European Community;
• organisations established within the European Community without prejudice to the application of national law;
• natural persons resident within the European Community.

Starting on June 16 2005, EURid began to accredit a network of .eu registrars and since then publishes a list of accredited registrars on our web site.  Those wanting a .eu name need to select one of those registrars in order to request a .eu name. Once .eu registrars are accredited they are allowed to accept pre-registrations for their customers. At the start of the live registrations, they will introduce their pre-registrations in the automated systems of EURid for processing. In case certain domain names are pre-registered several times, the automated systems will determine on a "first come, first served" basis which pre-registration will eventually lead to a definitive registration (the huge load of simultaneous applications will also generate a randomising effect).

Those who 'pre-register' a domain name should recognise that it can only be a provisional request until such time as the Registrant Terms and Conditions are available.  All .eu domain name holders will be required to formally accept the terms and conditions before their names can be registered.  Your registrar should ask you for your acceptance in advance of submitting your domain registration to us when .eu goes live.  The registrant terms and conditions will be published during the summer of 2005.

There will first be a sunrise period to allow public bodies and holders of certain prior rights to register their names. The sunrise period will consist of two consecutive phases each lasting two months. The start of the "sunrise period" will be announced by EURid well in advance in order to allow sufficient time for the introduction of the applications.

If you pre-register a name on which you do not have prior rights, you should be aware that it could be registered to another party who does have a right during the sunrise period.

In order to be informed about the latest information on the "sunrise period" it is recommended to pay a visit to the main site of EURid at regular times.

All .eu registrars will be listed on the EURid website indicating the language(s) in which they offer services. Clicking on the name of the registrar will take you directly to the website of the registrar.

Yes. Before the start of the live registrations under .eu there will be a so called "sunrise period". During this period public bodies and holders of certain rights (e.g. trademark holders) will have the opportunity to apply for the registration of the corresponding .eu domain name. The sunrise period will consist of two consecutive phases each lasting two month.

During phase 1 only domain names that correspond with:

• The full name of a public body

• The acronym by which a public body is commonly know

• If applicable, the territory which is governed by a public body

• Registered community or national trademarks

• Geographical indications

may be applied for by the public body or holder/licensee of the trademark
During phase 2 domain names that correspond with

• the names listed in phase 1

• other rights that are protected under the national law of the member state where they are held such as:

  • company names

  • business identifiers

  • distinctive titles of protected literary and artistic work

  • unregistered trademarks

  • trade names

It is important to remember that not all the rights listed are recognised in each member state. Applicants will be required to provide the legal basis that grants the right in community law or the national law of the member state where the right is held and provide documentary evidence which is accepted to demonstrate the right under that law.

These applications will be evaluated by appointed Validation Agents and in case of approval the ultimate registration of the corresponding .eu domain name will be done automatically through the accredited .eu registrar chosen by the applicant.

The start of the "sunrise period" will be announced by EURid well in advance in order to allow sufficient time for the introduction of the applications. In order to get informed about the latest details on the "sunrise period" it is recommended to pay a visit to the main site of EURid (www.eurid.eu) at regular times.

Once the "sunrise period" has been closed and the live registrations start, domains will be attributed on a "first come, first served" basis. If, for some circumstances, you would have missed the opportunity for a protective registration during the "sunrise period" and your domain has been registered by somebody else, you will still have the possibility to claim it back by making use of the alternative dispute resolution procedures.

You can read more about the rules of the sunrise period in the European Commission's Public Policy Rules for .eu available in a number of EU languages here.

At this moment it is not yet possible to register a .eu domain name nor to make an official pre-registration for such a domain.

Once .eu registrars are accredited they are allowed to accept pre-registrations for their customers. At the start of the live registrations, they will introduce their pre-registrations in the automated systems of EURid for processing. In case certain domain names were pre-registered several times, the automated systems will determine on a "first come, first served" basis which pre-registration will eventually lead to a definitive registration (the huge load of simultaneous applications will also generate a randomising effect).

Those who request a domain name from an accredited registrar should recognise that this can only be a provisional request until such time as the registrant terms and conditions are available.  All .eu domain name holders will be required to formally accept those terms and conditions before their name can be registered. 

Prior to the start of the registrations under .eu there will also be a so called "sunrise period". During this period holders of certain rights (e.g. trademark holders) will have the opportunity to apply for the registration of the corresponding .eu domain name. If you pre-register a name and do not have prior rights, you should be aware that the name could be registered to a party with prior rights to that name during the sunrise period and that pre-registration does not guarantee that you will get a particular name.

A while ago it came to our attention that a number of companies had already started offering pre-registration services. These pre-registrations have no official character whatsoever and there is absolutely no guarantee that you will succeed in registering the corresponding domain at the start of the live registrations. Moreover, if a company that offers pre-registration services doesn't become an accredited registrar of EURid, he will have to pass on all his pre-registrations to such an accredited registrar. All pre-registrations will need to be introduced in the automated systems of EURid prior to the official start of the live registrations under .eu (and after the closing of the "sunrise period") and will be processed the moment that .eu opens up for live registrations. In case certain domain names were pre-registered several times with different registrars, the automated systems will determine on "first come, first served" basis which pre-registration will eventually lead to a definitive registration.

If you would consider to accept certain offers for pre-registration by above mentioned companies, we advise to take the following into account:

• What policy will the registrar adopt if several applications are received for the same domain? Will only one registration be submitted for the first application that the registrar received, or will a different policy be adopted?

• Does the registrar take payment for pre-registration or does he require payment only when the domain names is successfully registered?

• Pre-registration gives absolutely no guarantee that you will actually be granted the .eu domain name

• The date when registrations within the .eu domain will actually come into effect is unknown at present.

1. undertakings having their registered office, central administration or principal place of business within the European Community;
2. organisations established within the European Community without prejudice to the application of national law;
3. natural persons resident within the European Community.