On 1 January 2021 over 81,000 British-based .eu registrants found their domain names had become “suspended”, meaning their domain names would not resolve to websites and emails would not transmit. The reason was that at the end of the Brexit “transition period” on 31 December, they were ineligible to hold or register .eu domains. To comply, individuals had to prove they were a citizen of the European Union or the larger European Economic Area, an EU citizen no matter where they lived in the world or for businesses, be a legally established entity in the EU or EEA.
Last week EURid, the .eu registry, announced over 8,000 of these 81,000 domain names have been reinstated. And additionally the registrants of the remaining 74,000 domain names will have an additional 3 months to comply with eligibility rules, meaning their domain can potentially remain in the “SUSPENDED” status until 30 June 2021 instead of the previously published date, 31 March 2021.
On 1 July 2021 those domain names that still do not comply will be placed in the “WITHDRAWN” status. A domain name in the “WITHDRAWN”status is not in the zone file and cannot support any service.
Registration data may be updated by indicating a legally established entity in one of the eligible EU27 or EEA Member State, or by updating their residence to a EU27 or EEA Member State, or proving their citizenship of a EU27 Member State irrespective of their residence.
EURid advises affected domain name registrants contact their registrar and update the domain name(s) contact address or citizenship as soon as possible, if they are eligible.