Recitals are introduced by the word "whereas" and are numbered, unless there is only one. Text at the start of an EU act that sets out the reasons for its operative provisions, while avoiding normative language and political argumentation. Recitals to EU laws are not in themselves legally binding in the same way that the operative provisions are. However, where an EU law is ambiguous, the recitals can be important in interpreting the ambiguous provision.
