Payments Law — EU payments legislation

Find EU legislative definitions

search_defined_terms

Read-onlyIdempotent

Use this to find which EU instruments define a legal term, such as payment transaction or payment account, and where their definitions differ. For definition wording use get_defined_term. A listing: term, definers and divergence flags, with no definition text. Matching is over the term itself, never the definition body. Divergence is judged on the RESOLVED text as well as the verbatim one, because several instruments defining a term by pointing at the same root agree, however differently their pointers read. Pass only_divergent to find where the corpus does not agree with itself.

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description
`limit`	No
`query`	No	Term text to match. Matching is over the TERM only, never the definition body. Omit for the full alphabetical listing of every term the corpus defines.
`cursor`	No
`instrument`	No	Keep only terms defined in this instrument, e.g. "psd-2".
`only_divergent`	No	Keep only terms whose definers disagree — on the resolved text, the verbatim text, or both.

Output Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`data`	Yes
`error`	Yes
`coverage`	Yes
`warnings`	Yes
`pagination`	Yes
`provenance`	Yes
`derivations`	Yes
`corpus_release`	Yes

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed1 schema field changedOct 14, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / instrument / anyOf

Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "maxLength": 64,
-    "pattern": "^[a-z0-9]+(?:-[a-z0-9]+)*$",
-    "type": "string"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "maxLength": 64,
+    "pattern": "^[A-Za-z0-9]+(?:[ ._-][A-Za-z0-9]+)*$",
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

Changed6 schema fields changedOct 4, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / cursor / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "maxLength": 512,
+    "pattern": "^[A-Za-z0-9_-]+$",
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

removedInput schema / properties / cursor / type
```
Removed value: -[
-  "string",
-  "null"
-]
```

addedInput schema / properties / instrument / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "maxLength": 64,
+    "pattern": "^[a-z0-9]+(?:-[a-z0-9]+)*$",
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

removedInput schema / properties / instrument / type
```
Removed value: -[
-  "string",
-  "null"
-]
```

addedInput schema / properties / query / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "maxLength": 256,
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

removedInput schema / properties / query / type
```
Removed value: -[
-  "string",
-  "null"
-]
```

Changed10 schema fields changedSep 20, 2026

removedInput schema / properties / cursor / anyOf

Removed value: -[
-  {
-    "type": "string"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]

addedInput schema / properties / cursor / type
```
Added value: +[
+  "string",
+  "null"
+]
```

removedInput schema / properties / instrument / anyOf

Removed value: -[
-  {
-    "type": "string"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]

addedInput schema / properties / instrument / type
```
Added value: +[
+  "string",
+  "null"
+]
```

removedInput schema / properties / only_divergent / anyOf

Removed value: -[
-  {
-    "type": "boolean"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]

addedInput schema / properties / only_divergent / type
```
Added value: +[
+  "boolean",
+  "null"
+]
```

removedInput schema / properties / query / anyOf

Removed value: -[
-  {
-    "type": "string"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]

addedInput schema / properties / query / type
```
Added value: +[
+  "string",
+  "null"
+]
```

changedOutput schema / properties / data / anyOf

Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "additionalProperties": {},
-    "properties": {
-      "items": {
-        "items": {
-          "additionalProperties": {},
-          "properties": {
-            "defined_in": {
-              "items": {
-                "additionalProperties": {},
-                "properties": {
-                  "cite": {
-                    "type": "string"
-                  },
-                  "defined_within": {
-                    "anyOf": [
-                      {
-                        "type": "string"
-                      },
-                      {
-                        "type": "null"
-                      }
-                    ]
-                  },
-                  "instrument_id": {
-                    "type": "string"
-                  },
-                  "qualifier": {
-                    "anyOf": [
-                      {
-                        "type": "string"
-                      },
-                      {
-                        "type": "null"
-                      }
-                    ]
-                  }
-                },
-                "required": [
-                  "instrument_id",
-                  "qualifier",
-                  "defined_within",
-                  "cite"
-                ],
-                "type": "object"
-              },
-              "type": "array"
-            },
-            "divergent_resolved": {
-              "type": "boolean"
-            },
-            "divergent_verbatim": {
-              "type": "boolean"
-            },
-            "term": {
-              "type": "string"
-            }
-          },
-          "required": [
-            "term",
-            "defined_in",
-            "divergent_verbatim",
-            "divergent_resolved"
-          ],
-          "type": "object"
-        },
-        "type": "array"
-      },
-      "next_cursor": {
-        "anyOf": [
-          {
-            "type": "string"
-          },
-          {
-            "type": "null"
-          }
-        ]
-      },
-      "total": {
-        "type": "number"
-      }
-    },
-    "required": [
-      "items",
-      "next_cursor",
-      "total"
-    ],
-    "type": "object"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "additionalProperties": {},
+    "properties": {
+      "items": {
+        "items": {
+          "additionalProperties": {},
+          "properties": {
+            "defined_in": {
+              "items": {
+                "additionalProperties": {},
+                "properties": {
+                  "cite": {
+                    "type": "string"
+                  },
+                  "defined_within": {
+                    "type": [
+                      "string",
+                      "null"
+                    ]
+                  },
+                  "instrument_id": {
+                    "type": "string"
+                  },
+                  "qualifier": {
+                    "type": [
+                      "string",
+                      "null"
+                    ]
+                  }
+                },
+                "required": [
+                  "instrument_id",
+                  "qualifier",
+                  "defined_within",
+                  "cite"
+                ],
+                "type": "object"
+              },
+              "type": "array"
+            },
+            "divergent_resolved": {
+              "type": "boolean"
+            },
+            "divergent_verbatim": {
+              "type": "boolean"
+            },
+            "term": {
+              "type": "string"
+            }
+          },
+          "required": [
+            "term",
+            "defined_in",
+            "divergent_verbatim",
+            "divergent_resolved"
+          ],
+          "type": "object"
+        },
+        "type": "array"
+      },
+      "next_cursor": {
+        "type": [
+          "string",
+          "null"
+        ]
+      },
+      "total": {
+        "type": "number"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "items",
+      "next_cursor",
+      "total"
+    ],
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

changedOutput schema / properties / pagination / anyOf

Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "additionalProperties": false,
-    "properties": {
-      "complete": {
-        "type": "boolean"
-      },
-      "next_cursor": {
-        "anyOf": [
-          {
-            "type": "string"
-          },
-          {
-            "type": "null"
-          }
-        ]
-      },
-      "total": {
-        "type": "number"
-      }
-    },
-    "required": [
-      "complete",
-      "next_cursor"
-    ],
-    "type": "object"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "additionalProperties": false,
+    "properties": {
+      "complete": {
+        "type": "boolean"
+      },
+      "next_cursor": {
+        "type": [
+          "string",
+          "null"
+        ]
+      },
+      "total": {
+        "type": "number"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "complete",
+      "next_cursor"
+    ],
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

First observedSep 6, 2026

TDQS

A4.5/5.0

Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnly, idempotent, non-destructive, and closed-world. The description adds important behavioral context: matching is over the term not definition body, what the listing contains (term, definers, divergence flags), and that divergence is judged on resolved text as well as verbatim. It does not mention pagination or full output shape, but the output schema covers return values.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Well-structured and front-loaded: purpose, alternative, return content, matching behavior, divergence nuance, and parameter use. Slightly dense but every sentence adds value. Could be more concise on divergence nuance.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given annotations cover safety, an output schema exists, and 5 params with 60% coverage, the description gives enough to select and invoke correctly: it names the sibling, clarifies matching scope, describes return content, and explains the key filter. It could mention pagination or limit behavior, but those are minor.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 60%. The description explains query matching over TERM only (reinforcing schema), clarifies what only_divergent does beyond the schema description, and explains the listing output. It does not explain limit or cursor, but those are standard and partly schema-documented. Good compensation for partially covered parameters.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description states a specific verb+resource: find which EU instruments define a legal term, and where definitions differ. It names the sibling get_defined_term for wording and distinguishes itself as a listing without definition text.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines5/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Explicitly says to use this tool to find definers and divergence, and to use get_defined_term for definition wording. It also explains the only_divergent parameter's purpose. The when-to-use vs alternative is clear.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

All Payments Law — EU payments legislation tools Inspect

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