I’ll tell you how this article came to exist.
Last year a colleague sent me a draft of his paper on AI governance for peer review. Solid research. Sharp analysis. But his citations were a mess. He’d referenced “the EU AI Act (2024)” in APA, cited “Article 5, AI Act” in a footnote with no regulation number, and in one particularly creative moment, cited a LinkedIn post summarising Article 9 as if it were primary legislation.
The reviewer tore him apart. Not for the substance but for the referencing. The paper was delayed three months.
Here’s the problem: the EU AI Act is one of the most cited pieces of legislation in AI research right now, but it’s also one of the most frequently mis-cited. It has an unusually long official title. It was published after a confusing sequence of drafts, proposals, and amendments.
And depending on whether you’re writing a law review article, a computer science paper, a policy brief, or a compliance report, the citation format is completely different.
So I put this guide together. Every major citation style. Copy-paste ready. With the traps flagged so you don’t fall into them.
The Essential Details on Citing EU AI Act You Need
Before we get into formats, here’s the factual information every citation requires:
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Official short title | Artificial Intelligence Act |
| Regulation number | Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 |
| Adopting bodies | European Parliament and Council of the European Union |
| Date of adoption | 13 June 2024 |
| Date of publication | 12 July 2024 |
| Official Journal reference | OJ L 2024/1689 |
| Date of entry into force | 1 August 2024 |
| EUR-Lex URL | https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng |
| ELI (European Legislation Identifier) | http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj |
The full official title (brace yourself):
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)
Yes, it amends nine other pieces of legislation. No, you don’t need to include the full title in most citation styles. But it helps to know it exists, because some journals will ask for it.
EU AI Act Citation Formats by Style
APA 7th Edition
This is what you’ll use for most social science, psychology, and interdisciplinary AI research.
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 (Artificial Intelligence Act). Official Journal of the European Union, L 2024/1689. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng
In-text citation:
First mention: Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act) Subsequent mentions: Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 or “the AI Act”
Citing a specific article:
Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 prohibits certain AI practices.
Citing a specific annex:
Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 lists high-risk AI use cases.
Common APA mistake: Don’t cite it as “European Union (2024)” or “European Parliament (2024).” EU legislation is cited by its regulation title and number, not by institutional author.
OSCOLA (Oxford Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities)
The standard for UK legal academic writing and most European law journals.
Footnote (first 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 L 2024/1689.
Footnote (subsequent citations):
Artificial Intelligence Act, art 5. Artificial Intelligence Act, art 9(2)(a). Artificial Intelligence Act, Annex III.
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 L 2024/1689
OSCOLA note: Footnotes end with a period. Bibliography entries do not. This trips people up constantly.
Bluebook (21st Edition)
The citation standard for US legal scholarship and law reviews.
Full citation:
Regulation 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 Laying Down Harmonised Rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act), 2024 O.J. (L 1689) 1.
Short form:
Artificial Intelligence Act, art. 5. Artificial Intelligence Act, Annex III, § 5(b).
Bluebook note: Bluebook Rule 21.9 governs EU legislation citations. The Official Journal reference uses the (L) series designation. Include the starting page number.
Harvard Referencing
Common in UK and Australian universities, particularly in non-law disciplines.
Reference list entry:
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act) (2024) Official Journal L 2024/1689. Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng (Accessed: [date]).
In-text citation:
(Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, 2024)
Or after first full reference:
(Artificial Intelligence Act, 2024)
Chicago Manual of Style (17th Edition)
Used in humanities, history, and some policy publications.
Footnote/endnote:
European Parliament and Council of the European Union, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of 13 June 2024 Laying Down Harmonised Rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act), Official Journal of the European Union L 2024/1689, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng.
Bibliography:
European Parliament and Council of the European Union. Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of 13 June 2024 Laying Down Harmonised Rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act). Official Journal of the European Union L 2024/1689. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng.
Subsequent footnote:
Artificial Intelligence Act, art. 14.
IEEE
Common in computer science, engineering, and technical AI research.
Reference list entry:
[1] European Parliament and Council of the European Union, “Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act),” Official Journal of the European Union, L 2024/1689, Jul. 12, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng
In-text citation:
[1] or [1, Art. 5]
MLA 9th Edition
Less common for AI Act citations, but used in some humanities and media studies contexts.
Works Cited entry:
“Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 Laying Down Harmonised Rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act).” Official Journal of the European Union, L 2024/1689, 12 July 2024. EUR-Lex, eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng.
In-text:
(Regulation (EU) 2024/1689)
Quick Copy-Paste Reference Table for EU AI Act Citations
| Style | Short Citation Form |
|---|---|
| APA | Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 |
| OSCOLA | Artificial Intelligence Act, art X |
| Bluebook | Artificial Intelligence Act, art. X, 2024 O.J. (L 1689) 1 |
| Harvard | (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, 2024) |
| Chicago | Artificial Intelligence Act, art. X |
| IEEE | [ref no.] or [ref no., Art. X] |
| MLA | (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689) |
How to Cite Specific Parts of the AI Act
The AI Act is a complex instrument with multiple layers. Here’s how to reference specific elements:
| Element | How to Cite (OSCOLA example) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A specific article | Artificial Intelligence Act, art 9 | |
| A paragraph within an article | Artificial Intelligence Act, art 9(2)(a) | Use parenthetical numbering as in the official text |
| A recital | Artificial Intelligence Act, recital 47 | Recitals provide interpretive context but are not legally binding provisions |
| A specific annex | Artificial Intelligence Act, Annex III | |
| A numbered item within an annex | Artificial Intelligence Act, Annex III, para 5(b) | |
| The Commission’s guidelines | Commission, ‘Guidelines on Prohibited Artificial Intelligence Practices’ (4 February 2025) | These are separate documents, not part of the regulation itself |
| The GPAI Code of Practice | ‘General-Purpose AI Code of Practice’ (AI Office, 10 July 2025) | Voluntary instrument, cite separately from the Act |
Citing Earlier EU AI Act Drafts and Legislative History
If your research analyses the legislative process itself, you’ll need to cite earlier versions:
| Document | Citation |
|---|---|
| Commission’s original proposal (2021) | European Commission, ‘Proposal for a Regulation laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence’ COM(2021) 206 final |
| European Parliament’s negotiating position | European Parliament legislative resolution of 13 March 2024 on the proposal for a regulation laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence, P9_TA(2024)0138 |
| Council’s general approach | Council of the European Union, General approach on the proposal for a regulation laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence, 2021/0106(COD) |
| Digital Omnibus proposal (2025) | European Commission, ‘Proposal for a regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 as regards the simplification of the implementation of harmonised rules on artificial intelligence’ COM(2025) 836 |
Critical rule: Always cite the final published version (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689) unless you are specifically analysing the legislative process or comparing draft provisions with the final text. If citing an earlier draft, clearly indicate it’s a draft and specify the date.
Common EU AI Act Citation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
I’ve reviewed hundreds of papers citing the AI Act over the past year. These are the mistakes I see most often:
| Mistake | Why It’s Wrong | Correct Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Citing “EU AI Act (2024)” as if it’s a short-form title | “EU AI Act” is an informal name, not the official title. Citation requires the regulation number. | Use “Regulation (EU) 2024/1689” or “Artificial Intelligence Act” depending on your style |
| Referencing a blog post or news article instead of the primary text | Secondary sources are commentary, not the law. Regulators and reviewers expect primary sources. | Always cite the Official Journal text via EUR-Lex |
| Using the wrong date | The Act was adopted on 13 June 2024, published on 12 July 2024, and entered into force on 1 August 2024. Different styles require different dates. | Check which date your citation style requires |
| Citing the Commission’s 2021 proposal as “the AI Act” | The proposal underwent significant changes. The 2021 text is materially different from the final regulation. | Cite the final text unless specifically discussing the proposal |
| Omitting article or annex numbers | “The AI Act requires risk management” is insufficient. Which article? Which provision? | Always include the specific article, paragraph, or annex reference |
| Mixing citation styles | Using OSCOLA article format in an APA paper, or vice versa | Choose one style and use it consistently throughout |
| Citing the regulation in one language but quoting from another | All language versions are equally authentic, but you should cite what you actually read | Indicate the language version if not obvious from context |
Why This Actually Matters: Beyond Academic Pedantry
I know what you might be thinking — who cares about citation format when there’s a regulation to comply with? Let me give you three scenarios where getting this wrong has real consequences.
In academic publishing: A poorly cited paper gets sent back for revision. In a field moving as fast as AI regulation, a three-month delay means your analysis may be outdated by the time it’s published. I’ve seen promising papers on Article 6 classification miss their window because the author couldn’t cite properly.
In legal proceedings: If you’re drafting legal arguments, submissions to regulators, or compliance opinions, imprecise citations undermine credibility. A court brief that references “the AI Act, Article something about risk management” will not impress a judge. Specificity demonstrates command of the material.
In policy work: If you’re drafting policy recommendations, responding to consultations, or preparing position papers for industry associations, your citations signal whether you’ve actually read the regulation or just the summaries. Policymakers notice. I’ve sat in Brussels meetings where a submission was dismissed because the citations were to news articles rather than the legislative text.
In compliance documentation: Under the AI Act itself, technical documentation must reference the specific provisions being addressed. Your risk management file should cite Article 9. Your transparency documentation should reference Article 13. Your conformity assessment should map to Articles 43-44 and Annex VI or VII. Vague references aren’t just poor form — they’re evidence of incomplete compliance.
Best Practices
| Practice | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Always use the EUR-Lex official text as your primary source | This is the legally authoritative version. Third-party websites may contain errors or use unofficial translations. |
| Bookmark the ELI link | The European Legislation Identifier (http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj) is a stable, permanent identifier that won’t break. |
| Pin down the specific provision | Don’t just cite “the AI Act.” Cite the article, paragraph, subparagraph, or annex. Precision demonstrates mastery. |
| Use the informal name correctly | “EU AI Act” or “AI Act” is fine in running text after first full citation. It is not a citation form. |
| Check your journal’s house style | Some journals have specific preferences for EU legislation citations that override standard style guides. Always check the author guidelines. |
| Cite guidelines and codes of practice separately | The Commission’s guidelines on prohibited practices, the GPAI Code of Practice, and the classification guidelines are separate instruments. Don’t cite them as part of the regulation. |
| Track consolidations | If the Digital Omnibus is adopted, the AI Act will be amended. Future citations may need to reference the consolidated version. Watch EUR-Lex for updates. |
| Use reference management software | Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote can all handle EU legislation — but you may need to manually adjust the output. Don’t trust auto-generated citations blindly. |
How EYREACT Can Help
EYREACT’s platform maps every compliance obligation to its exact legal basis — article by article, paragraph by paragraph, annex by annex. When you generate compliance documentation, audit reports, or risk assessments through the platform, every requirement is traceable to the specific provision of the AI Act it derives from.
No more vague references. No more “Article something about risk management.” Every rule in the platform carries its legal citation, ready for regulatory scrutiny. Book a demo!
FAQ
What’s the difference between the “AI Act” and “Regulation (EU) 2024/1689”?
They’re the same thing. “Artificial Intelligence Act” or “AI Act” is the short title given in the regulation itself. “Regulation (EU) 2024/1689” is the formal regulation number. In citations, use the regulation number for the first reference and the short title for subsequent references (depending on your style guide).
Which date should I use — June 2024, July 2024, or August 2024?
It depends on what you mean. 13 June 2024 is the date of adoption. 12 July 2024 is the date of publication in the Official Journal. 1 August 2024 is the date of entry into force. Most citation styles require the date of the instrument (13 June 2024) or the date of publication (12 July 2024). Check your specific style guide.
Can I just cite “EU AI Act (2024)” in my paper?
No. This is not a valid citation in any standard style. The regulation must be identified by its regulation number (2024/1689) and cited according to the conventions of your chosen style guide.
How do I cite a specific article and paragraph?
Follow the hierarchical numbering of the text itself. Example: Article 9(2)(a) means Article 9, paragraph 2, subparagraph (a). In OSCOLA: “Artificial Intelligence Act, art 9(2)(a).” In Bluebook: “Artificial Intelligence Act, art. 9(2)(a).” The notation is the same; only punctuation differs between styles.
The AI Act is available in 24 languages. Which version should I cite?
Cite the version you actually read and relied upon. All language versions are equally authentic as a matter of EU law. If you’re writing in English, cite the English version. If your publication is in German, cite the German version. If you need to compare language versions for interpretive purposes, note both versions in your citation.
How do I cite the Commission’s guidelines on prohibited practices?
These are separate documents from the regulation. Citation example (OSCOLA): European Commission, ‘Guidelines on Prohibited Artificial Intelligence Practices Established by Regulation (EU) 2024/1689’ (4 February 2025). Do not cite them as part of the AI Act itself.
Should I include a URL in my citation?
APA, Harvard, IEEE, and MLA generally require or encourage URLs. OSCOLA generally does not include URLs for legislation available in the Official Journal. Bluebook typically includes the Official Journal reference but not a URL. When including a URL, use the official EUR-Lex link.
How do I cite the AI Act in reference management software?
Enter it as “Legislation” or “Statute” type in Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote. You’ll likely need to manually adjust the output — auto-generated citations for EU legislation are frequently incorrect. Always verify the final output against the examples in this guide.
Will I need to update my citations if the Digital Omnibus is adopted?
If the Digital Omnibus amends the AI Act, a consolidated version of the regulation will be published on EUR-Lex. For provisions that are unchanged, your existing citations remain valid. For amended provisions, cite the consolidated version and note the amendment. Example: “Artificial Intelligence Act, art 6 (as amended by Regulation (EU) 20XX/XXXX).”
How do I cite the AI Act’s annexes?
Annexes are cited as part of the regulation. Example (OSCOLA): “Artificial Intelligence Act, Annex III” or “Artificial Intelligence Act, Annex III, para 5(b).” Example (Bluebook): “Artificial Intelligence Act, Annex III, § 5(b), 2024 O.J. (L 1689).”
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Organisations should seek qualified legal counsel for jurisdiction-specific compliance guidance.
