From April, 7 the Internet-users residing in the European Union have had the opportunity to register their domain names in .EU zone. The .EU domain is planned by its creators to rival .COM, which is currently quite popular with the European companies.       

The registration in .EU domain zone was commenced in December, 2005. It underwent three stages: first to register were those who possessed a trademark as well as non-profit organizations, second were all the other companies and from April, 7 all the people wishing to do so have been granted the right. As predicted, by the end of 2006 the zone will contain about 240 thousand domain names of various organisations and companies solely. In just an hour’s time after the registration was declared open 300 thousand applications were filed.

Companies were quick to choose simple and short names. Thus, the domain polo.eu was contested by an automobile concern Volkswagen AG, fashion house Ralph Lauren and the foodstuffs producer Nestle. In the upshot the German firm took the upper hand for it had been the first to file an application.

According to the statistics, the organisations and citizens from France, Germany, Netherlands and Great Britain have exhibited highest interest in registering their domains in .EU zone. As per April, 13 2006:

1.      Germany                                    474 835 registrations in the .EU zone

2.      Great Britain                               297 323 registrations in the .EU zone

3.      Netherlands                                176 514 registrations in the .EU zone

4.      Italy                                            88 675 registrations in the .EU zone

5.      Sweden                                       64 098 registrations in the .EU zone

Today there is about 1.5 million registered domain names.

Despite the fact that Switzerland is situated in the very centre of Europe, its citizens and organisations do not enjoy the right to register their domain names in .EU zone. According to EU regulations, only those organisations are eligible to get a domain in .EU zone, which are registered or have their representative office in any of EU member-states. Similarly, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (which have not entered the EU, but are affiliated with the European Economic Community) are not granted the right. According to the head of EURid, accredited as the registration company in the .EU domain zone, the phenomenon in question should be accessible to all the European countries. However, his point of view was not met with support in the European Union.

One needs to add that the Internet-sites of EU official bodies will switch to new domains on May, 9, celebrated as the day of Europe.