In law, a recital (from Latin: recitare, "to read out"[1]) consists of an account or repetition of the details of some act, proceeding or fact.
Particularly, in law, that part of a legal document—such as a lease, which contains a statement of certain facts—contains the purpose for which the deed is made.
[2] In European Union law, a recital is a text that sets out reasons for the provisions of an enactment, while avoiding normative language and political argumentation.
[3] A recital may also appear at the end of a document,[citation needed] as some 173 do in the General Data Protection Regulation.
[citation needed][failed verification] Recitals have been demonstrated to play a limited role in the interpretation of Union legislation in the courts in the case of ambiguity in a particular provision within the legislation.