The EU AI Act is officially titled “Regulation (EU) 2024/1689” and was published in the Official Journal on 12 July 2024. This comprehensive guide provides the exact citation formats you need for academic papers, legal documents, and professional research across all major citation styles.
Quick Reference: EU AI Act Citation Essentials
Official Details:
- Full Title: Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act)
- Short Title: EU AI Act or Artificial Intelligence Act
- Publication Date: 12 July 2024
- Entry into Force: 1 August 2024
- Official Journal Reference: OJ L, 2024/1689, 12.7.2024
APA 7th Edition Citation Format
Basic Reference List Entry
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act), Official Journal L 2024/1689 (2024). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/engIn-Text Citation Examples
- First citation: According to the EU regulation on artificial intelligence (Regulation 2024/1689)…
- Subsequent citations: The AI Act (Regulation 2024/1689) establishes…
- With specific article: Article 5 of the AI Act (Regulation 2024/1689, 2024) prohibits certain AI practices…
Short Form Reference
For easier reading, you can use this shortened version after the first full citation:
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), Official Journal L 2024/1689 (2024).OSCOLA Citation Format (Legal Documents)
OSCOLA is the standard legal citation format used in the UK and many international legal contexts. For the EU AI Act:
Footnote Citation
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act) [2024] OJ L2024/1689.Bibliography Entry
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act) [2024] OJ L2024/1689Citing Specific Articles
To reference specific articles, add the article number after the OJ citation:
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act) [2024] OJ L2024/1689, art 5.Harvard Citation Format
Reference List
European Union (2024) Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act), Official Journal of the European Union, L 2024/1689, pp. 1-144.In-Text Citation
(European Union, 2024)Chicago Manual of Style
Bibliography Entry
European Union. "Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act)." Official Journal of the European Union L 2024/1689 (July 12, 2024): 1-144.Footnote
European Union, "Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act)," Official Journal of the European Union L 2024/1689 (July 12, 2024): 1-144.MLA 8th Edition Format
Works Cited Entry
European Union. "Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act)." Official Journal of the European Union, L 2024/1689, 12 July 2024, pp. 1-144.In-Text Citation
(European Union)Special Citation Considerations
Citing Specific Provisions
When referencing specific parts of the AI Act, include:
Articles: Use “art” or “article”
- Example:
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, art 5(1)(a)
Recitals: Use “recital” or “rec”
- Example:
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, recital 16
Annexes: Use “Annex”
- Example:
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Annex III
Pre-Publication Citations
The AI Act was passed by the European Parliament on 13 March 2024 and approved by the EU Council on 21 May 2024. If citing earlier versions:
European Parliament legislative resolution of 13 March 2024 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on laying down harmonised rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act) P9_TA(2024)0138.Alternative Short Citations
For repeated references, you can use these shortened forms:
- EU AI Act
- Artificial Intelligence Act
- Regulation 2024/1689
- AI Act
Digital Access Information
Primary Sources:
- EUR-Lex: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng
- AI Act Explorer: https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/ai-act-explorer/
Key Dates for Citation:
- Proposed: 21 April 2021
- Parliament Approval: 13 March 2024
- Council Approval: 21 May 2024
- Published: 12 July 2024
- Entered into Force: 1 August 2024
Here are a few examples depending on your referencing style:
| style | example citation |
|---|---|
| APA 7th | Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence. European Union. URL |
| OSCOLA / legal style | Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, “Harmonised rules on artificial intelligence” (OJ L …) |
| Interinstitutional / EU official style | Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on harmonised rules on artificial intelligence. |
For official EU documents, the Interinstitutional Style Guide offers consistent conventions for EU institutions and publishers. ec-europa-eu.libguides.com
If you accessed the AI Act online (e.g. via EUR-Lex), including the URL is usually expected (depending on your style guidelines).
Full reference (APA style):
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence. European Union. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj
In-text EU AI Act citation examples:
- (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689)
- (Reg. 2024/1689, Art. 6)
- “Under Article 6 of the AI Act (Reg. 2024/1689), providers must…”
Common EU AI Act Citation Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t do this when citing EU AI Act:
- Cite only as “EU AI Act” without the regulation number
- Forget to include the Official Journal reference
- Use outdated draft versions
- Omit the entry-into-force date when relevant
Do this when citing EU AI Act:
- Always include the regulation number (EU) 2024/1689
- Specify which version you’re citing (final, draft, etc.)
- Include specific article numbers when referencing particular provisions
- Make clear what type of document you’re referencing
EU AI Act Citation Context for Academic Use
The AI Act represents the world’s first comprehensive AI regulation, making it a crucial reference for academic research in:
- Legal Studies: Regulatory framework analysis
- Technology Policy: AI governance research
- Business Studies: Compliance and market impact studies
- Ethics: AI rights and safety research
- Computer Science: Technical standards and requirements
International Relevance of EU AI Act – Why Citations Are Important
The AI Act has broad international reach, affecting organisations far outside Europe, including those in the US with no EU presence. This makes proper citation essential for:
- Comparative legal analysis
- International business compliance research
- Global AI governance studies
- Cross-border technology policy research
Key Takeaway
The EU AI Act should be cited as Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 with the full official title, Official Journal reference [2024] OJ L2024/1689, and appropriate formatting for your chosen citation style. Always include specific article numbers when referencing particular provisions, and ensure you’re citing the final published version rather than earlier drafts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About How to Cite EU AI Act
What is the official regulation number for the EU AI Act?
The EU AI Act is officially designated as Regulation (EU) 2024/1689. This number should always be included in formal citations to ensure accurate identification of the legislation.
When was the EU AI Act published and when did it enter into force?
The AI Act was published in the Official Journal on 12 July 2024 and entered into force on 1 August 2024. Different provisions have varying implementation timelines, with some taking effect 6-36 months after entry into force.
How do I cite a specific article of the EU AI Act?
Add the article number after the main citation: Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, art 5 for Article 5, or Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, art 6(2) for Article 6, paragraph 2. For recitals, use: Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, recital 16.
Can I just cite it as “EU AI Act” without the regulation number?
While “EU AI Act” is acceptable for informal references, academic and legal citations should always include the regulation number (EU) 2024/1689 to ensure precision and compliance with citation standards.
What’s the difference between citing the final Act versus draft versions?
Always cite the final published version (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689) unless specifically analysing the legislative process. If citing earlier drafts, clearly indicate the version date and specify it’s a draft to avoid confusion.
Do I need to include a URL in my citation?
This depends on your citation style. APA typically requires URLs for online sources, while OSCOLA generally doesn’t. When including URLs, use the official EUR-Lex link: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng
How do I cite the AI Act in footnotes versus bibliography?
In footnotes (OSCOLA): End with a period. In bibliography: No period at the end. APA uses the same format for both in-text and reference list, with only punctuation differences.
What if I’m citing the AI Act in a language other than English?
The AI Act is available in all official EU languages. Cite the version you actually used, but indicate the language if not obvious from context. The regulation number remains the same across all language versions.
Should I cite individual annexes differently?
Yes, specify the annex: Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Annex III or Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Annex I, Section A. This helps readers locate the exact provision you’re referencing.
Is there a difference between citing “Artificial Intelligence Act” and “AI Act”?
Both are acceptable short forms, but “Artificial Intelligence Act” is the official short title. Use consistently throughout your document. In formal academic work, establish your preferred short form at first mention.
Need help with EU AI Act compliance? This citation guide ensures your academic and legal documents properly reference this groundbreaking legislation that will shape the future of artificial intelligence regulation globally.
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