Payments Law — EU payments legislation

Find EU payments requirements

search_legislation

Read-onlyIdempotent

Use this to find EU legislative provisions on payment-services questions: strong customer authentication (SCA), dynamic linking, open banking, safeguarding and payment liability. For exact wording use get_provision; for defined-term wording use get_defined_term. Full-text search across articles, annexes and recitals, ranked in that order; a citation-shaped query resolves through the citation grammar first. Every hit carries the locator get_provision accepts, its cite anchor and the matched passage. topic narrows hits rather than widening them, so for a coverage question ('everything on X') pick the instruments with list_instruments, enumerate each with list_provisions filtered by topic, then open them with get_provision.

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description
`kind`	No	Restrict to one source type. Articles, annexes and recitals are all searched by default, ranked in that order of authority.
`limit`	No
`query`	Yes	EU legislative search terms, e.g. "strong customer authentication", "dynamic linking", "safeguarding" or "DORA ICT risk". Use words expected in the legal text, not an entire advice request. Quoted phrases are honoured; AND, OR and NOT are the only operators. A citation-shaped query ("Article 97(1) PSD2") is resolved through the citation grammar first.
`topic`	No	Keep only provisions carrying this topic.
`cursor`	No
`instrument_id`	No	Restrict to one instrument, e.g. "rts-sca".
`in_force_on_date`	No	ISO date; keeps hits from instruments in force on that date, on the same semantics list_instruments uses.

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 24, 2026

changedOutput schema / properties / data / anyOf

Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "additionalProperties": {},
-    "properties": {
-      "citation_routed": {
-        "type": "boolean"
-      },
-      "items": {
-        "items": {
-          "additionalProperties": {},
-          "properties": {
-            "cite": {
-              "type": "string"
-            },
-            "instrument_id": {
-              "type": "string"
-            },
-            "locator": {
-              "additionalProperties": {},
-              "propertyNames": {
-                "type": "string"
-              },
-              "type": "object"
-            },
-            "matched_via": {
-              "type": "string"
-            },
-            "score": {
-              "type": [
-                "number",
-                "null"
-              ]
-            },
-            "snippet": {
-              "type": "string"
-            },
-            "source_type": {
-              "type": "string"
-            },
-            "url": {
-              "type": "string"
-            },
-            "why": {
-              "type": "string"
-            }
-          },
-          "required": [
-            "instrument_id",
-            "cite",
-            "source_type",
-            "locator",
-            "url",
-            "snippet",
-            "score",
-            "why",
-            "matched_via"
-          ],
-          "type": "object"
-        },
-        "type": "array"
-      },
-      "match_mode": {
-        "type": "string"
-      },
-      "next_cursor": {
-        "type": [
-          "string",
-          "null"
-        ]
-      },
-      "query_terms": {
-        "items": {
-          "type": "string"
-        },
-        "type": "array"
-      },
-      "total": {
-        "type": "number"
-      }
-    },
-    "required": [
-      "query_terms",
-      "match_mode",
-      "citation_routed",
-      "items",
-      "next_cursor",
-      "total"
-    ],
-    "type": "object"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "additionalProperties": {},
+    "properties": {
+      "citation_routed": {
+        "type": "boolean"
+      },
+      "items": {
+        "items": {
+          "additionalProperties": {},
+          "properties": {
+            "cite": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "instrument_id": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "locator": {
+              "additionalProperties": {},
+              "propertyNames": {
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              "type": "object"
+            },
+            "matched_via": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "score": {
+              "type": [
+                "number",
+                "null"
+              ]
+            },
+            "snippet": {
+              "description": "At most 320 characters of served text; not the provision.",
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "source_type": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "url": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "why": {
+              "type": "string"
+            }
+          },
+          "required": [
+            "instrument_id",
+            "cite",
+            "source_type",
+            "locator",
+            "url",
+            "snippet",
+            "score",
+            "why",
+            "matched_via"
+          ],
+          "type": "object"
+        },
+        "type": "array"
+      },
+      "match_mode": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "next_cursor": {
+        "type": [
+          "string",
+          "null"
+        ]
+      },
+      "query_terms": {
+        "items": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "type": "array"
+      },
+      "total": {
+        "type": "number"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "query_terms",
+      "match_mode",
+      "citation_routed",
+      "items",
+      "next_cursor",
+      "total"
+    ],
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

Changed1 schema field changedOct 14, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / instrument_id / 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"
+  }
+]

Changed8 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 / in_force_on_date / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "maxLength": 32,
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

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

addedInput schema / properties / instrument_id / anyOf

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

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

addedInput schema / properties / topic / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "maxLength": 64,
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

removedInput schema / properties / topic / 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 / in_force_on_date / anyOf

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

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

removedInput schema / properties / instrument_id / anyOf

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

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

removedInput schema / properties / topic / anyOf

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

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

changedOutput schema / properties / data / anyOf

Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "additionalProperties": {},
-    "properties": {
-      "citation_routed": {
-        "type": "boolean"
-      },
-      "items": {
-        "items": {
-          "additionalProperties": {},
-          "properties": {
-            "cite": {
-              "type": "string"
-            },
-            "instrument_id": {
-              "type": "string"
-            },
-            "locator": {
-              "additionalProperties": {},
-              "propertyNames": {
-                "type": "string"
-              },
-              "type": "object"
-            },
-            "matched_via": {
-              "type": "string"
-            },
-            "score": {
-              "anyOf": [
-                {
-                  "type": "number"
-                },
-                {
-                  "type": "null"
-                }
-              ]
-            },
-            "snippet": {
-              "type": "string"
-            },
-            "source_type": {
-              "type": "string"
-            },
-            "url": {
-              "type": "string"
-            },
-            "why": {
-              "type": "string"
-            }
-          },
-          "required": [
-            "instrument_id",
-            "cite",
-            "source_type",
-            "locator",
-            "url",
-            "snippet",
-            "score",
-            "why",
-            "matched_via"
-          ],
-          "type": "object"
-        },
-        "type": "array"
-      },
-      "match_mode": {
-        "type": "string"
-      },
-      "next_cursor": {
-        "anyOf": [
-          {
-            "type": "string"
-          },
-          {
-            "type": "null"
-          }
-        ]
-      },
-      "query_terms": {
-        "items": {
-          "type": "string"
-        },
-        "type": "array"
-      },
-      "total": {
-        "type": "number"
-      }
-    },
-    "required": [
-      "query_terms",
-      "match_mode",
-      "citation_routed",
-      "items",
-      "next_cursor",
-      "total"
-    ],
-    "type": "object"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "additionalProperties": {},
+    "properties": {
+      "citation_routed": {
+        "type": "boolean"
+      },
+      "items": {
+        "items": {
+          "additionalProperties": {},
+          "properties": {
+            "cite": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "instrument_id": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "locator": {
+              "additionalProperties": {},
+              "propertyNames": {
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              "type": "object"
+            },
+            "matched_via": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "score": {
+              "type": [
+                "number",
+                "null"
+              ]
+            },
+            "snippet": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "source_type": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "url": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "why": {
+              "type": "string"
+            }
+          },
+          "required": [
+            "instrument_id",
+            "cite",
+            "source_type",
+            "locator",
+            "url",
+            "snippet",
+            "score",
+            "why",
+            "matched_via"
+          ],
+          "type": "object"
+        },
+        "type": "array"
+      },
+      "match_mode": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "next_cursor": {
+        "type": [
+          "string",
+          "null"
+        ]
+      },
+      "query_terms": {
+        "items": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "type": "array"
+      },
+      "total": {
+        "type": "number"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "query_terms",
+      "match_mode",
+      "citation_routed",
+      "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"
+  }
+]

Changed1 schema field changedSep 8, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / query / description

Previous value: -"What to search for, in the words you expect in the legal text. Quoted phrases are honoured; AND, OR and NOT are the only operators. A citation-shaped query (\"Article 97(1) PSD2\") is resolved through the citation grammar first."New value: +"EU legislative search terms, e.g. \"strong customer authentication\", \"dynamic linking\", \"safeguarding\" or \"DORA ICT risk\". Use words expected in the legal text, not an entire advice request. Quoted phrases are honoured; AND, OR and NOT are the only operators. A citation-shaped query (\"Article 97(1) PSD2\") is resolved through the citation grammar first."

First observedSep 6, 2026

TDQS

A4.7/5.0

Behavior5/5

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

Annotations already cover safety (readOnly, idempotent, non-destructive, closed-world), and the description still adds real behavioral detail: search spans articles, annexes and recitals ranked in that order of authority, citation-shaped queries resolve through the citation grammar first, and every hit carries a locator usable by get_provision plus cite anchor and matched passage. It also discloses a non-obvious semantic that topic narrows rather than widens, which prevents a misuse pattern.

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?

Front-loaded with purpose and siblings before the longer mechanics, and each sentence carries distinct information (ranking order, citation grammar, hit payload, coverage workflow). The final workflow sentence is long, but it is load-bearing rather than filler.

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?

Annotations plus an output schema mean return shape and safety need no restating, and the description covers ranking, citation resolution, and the multi-step coverage workflow. The remaining gap is pagination behavior: cursor and limit defaults are not explained in prose, which matters for a search tool that can return many hits.

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 71%; the description adds meaning beyond the schema for topic ('narrows hits rather than widening them'), which the schema merely states as a filter, and reinforces the citation-grammar behavior for query. limit and cursor remain undocumented in prose, though the output schema and cursor pattern reduce the cost of that gap.

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?

Names a specific verb and resource ('find EU legislative provisions on payment-services questions') and enumerates the covered subtopics (SCA, dynamic linking, open banking, safeguarding, payment liability). It also explicitly differentiates itself from get_provision and get_defined_term, so an agent can pick the right sibling without opening a schema.

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?

States when to use it, names the alternatives for exact wording (get_provision) and defined-term wording (get_defined_term), and gives an explicit routing rule for the tricky 'everything on X' case: list_instruments then list_provisions filtered by topic then get_provision. That is a genuine when/when-not plus alternatives.

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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