.eu - Domains for Europe
450 Million EU Citizens - One Domain
.eu - More Than an Alternative to .com
Why a .eu-Domain?
With a .eu domain, you position yourself as part of the European community. You open doors to a market of over 450 million people and demonstrate your connection to European values such as diversity, cooperation, and innovation.
Over 3.7 million registered .eu domains - Available in 24 official EU languages - Supported by the European Union. Ready to become part of the European online community?
The Relevance of the eu-Domain
Benefits for Businesses
A .eu domain signals your European affiliation and professionalism at first glance. It strengthens your brand identity across Europe and improves your visibility for cross-border offerings. Through EU regulation and protection against cybersquatting, it increases your customers' trust. For European target groups, it offers SEO advantages and is an excellent alternative when .de or .com domains are already taken. With a .eu domain, you emphasize the pan-European orientation of your company and enable a unified presence in various EU countries.
Benefits for Service Providers
With a .eu domain, you present your portfolio to an international audience and signal your openness to Europe-wide contracts. You differentiate yourself from local competitors and facilitate your expansion into other EU markets. A .eu domain conveys reliability and professionalism and offers an attractive alternative when your desired domain with a country extension is already taken. It allows for short, memorable domain names and underlines your European expertise and networks.
Benefits for Individuals
A .eu domain is your personal commitment to European identity and values. It offers an attractive alternative when your desired country domain is not available and is excellent for blogs or portals with EU relevance. With a .eu domain, you show your open-mindedness and international orientation. It allows you to have a unique personal online presence without having to prove Europe-wide activities. As an EU citizen, you can identify with a .eu domain and use an affordable option for your individual web presence.
The History of the eu-Domain
From Idea to Reality
The creation of the .eu domain is closely linked to the development of the European Union.
The Beginnings (2000-2002)
In 2000, the European Commission first proposed the introduction of a .eu domain. The goal was to create a distinct European identity on the internet and promote the digital single market.
In 2002, the European Parliament and the European Council officially decided to create this new top-level domain. This marked the beginning of a new era for European online presence.
Preparations and Legal Framework (2003-2005)
In 2003, EURid (European Registry for Internet Domains) was established as a non-profit organization and appointed by the EU Commission as the official manager of the .eu domain.
In the following years, the legal and technical framework for introducing the new domain was created. This included defining registration requirements and developing the technical infrastructure.
The Official Launch (2005-2006)
On December 7, 2005, the first phase of registration, known as the "Sunrise Period," began. During this time, only trademark holders and public institutions could register domains.
General registration for all eligible individuals and organizations started on April 7, 2006. This triggered a veritable rush, with over 1.5 million registrations in the first four months.
Growth and Development (2006-present)
On May 9, 2006, Europe Day, EU organizations officially switched from the .eu.int domain to the new .eu domain. This underscored the importance of the new domain for European identity on the internet.
In the following years, the .eu domain experienced steady growth. By 2015, there were already 3.9 million active .eu domains. Today, .eu is the ninth-largest country-code top-level domain worldwide, with over 3.7 million registered domains (as of October 2023).
Modernization and Future
In 2019, the legal framework for .eu was modernized through a new EU regulation. This expanded the eligibility criteria, allowing EU citizens outside the EU to register a .eu domain.
The .eu domain remains an important tool for promoting European identity in the digital space and supporting the EU's digital single market.