Developments in European information issues: Networks and relays – Services – Products, February 2000

PreLex coming soon

Information contained in the APC database which was formerly available via the telnet CAA access route is to be incorporated into a new database on inter-institutional procedures called PreLex. PreLex is to be made available via the Europa server and will offer information about the legislative work of the European institutions. It is planned to include data covering more than twenty years of the legislative process and links will be offered to the full electronic texts of documents such as COM documents, the Official Journal, EP reports and press releases.

CELEX changes

CELEX users will find a new initial screen, though not all options are working yet. An expert search mode is on its way but is still posted as “under construction”. Also under construction is the guidance on creating links to legal texts, which will allow webmasters to direct users straight to a particular document. To reach the standard web search screen that regular users will recognise, select the option “menu searching”.

Changes have been made to the CELEX record numbers. These are Y2K related. All CELEX numbers are being changed to include four digits instead of two digits for the year, eg 31998L0101 for Directive 98/101. The change applies to all records, not just from 2000 onwards. However using only two digits continues to work meantime.