Europe Information Gateway A clarity layer for Europe’s public information systems

Structure first

How Europe’s information systems work

A practical explanation of why Europe’s registries and identifiers feel fragmented — and how to read them without guessing.

Why it feels complicated

Europe is not one administrative machine. It is a web of institutions, national systems, and shared rules. Some things are harmonised. Many things are not. The result is a landscape where the same question can have different answers depending on the country, the corridor, and the purpose.

Most confusion comes from expecting a single “master number” or a single registry that solves everything. In reality, the systems are designed for specific jobs. Once you understand the job, the system makes sense.

Three building blocks

Identifiers

An identifier is a label used to reference a person, company, shipment, or process. It helps systems talk to each other. But an identifier alone usually does not prove anything — it points to where evidence might live.

Registries

A registry is a record set. It may be public, semi-public, or restricted. It may be national, regional, or European. Registries are where structured information is stored, updated, and sometimes removed.

Procedures

Procedures are the “rules in motion” — what happens when someone travels, trades, imports, exports, or registers. Procedures often rely on identifiers and registries, but they are not the same thing.

The corridor model

EIG groups systems into four corridors so you can orient yourself quickly. Each corridor answers a different type of question.

  • Identity & Registration: Who is this entity, in administrative terms?
  • Movement & Travel: Who can move, under what conditions?
  • Goods & Customs: What is moving, who is responsible, and which rules apply?
  • Business & Companies: How is a business formed, classified, and referenced?

Common misunderstandings

  • “If I have the number, I’m done.” Often the number is only a reference. The registry is what matters.
  • “Europe means one system.” Europe often means shared rules, implemented through national infrastructure.
  • “A registry is always public.” Many records exist, but access can be limited by law or purpose.
  • “The same name means the same thing.” Similar terms can differ across countries and corridors.

How to read information safely

When you encounter a number or registry, ask three calm questions:

  1. What corridor is this in? Identity, movement, goods, or business.
  2. What is the system’s job? Registration, permission, tracking, or classification.
  3. Where is the official source? The institution that issues decisions and maintains records.

If you want deeper detail, start with the corridor that fits your situation: