VUV-UV and Eu-L 3 edge XANES spectra were measured for europium-doped strontium tetraborate prepared by solid state reaction at high temperature in air. The VUV-UV spectra show that the host absorption band of SrB 4 O 7 appears below 170 nm. The charge transfer band of Eu 3 + doped in SrB 4 O 7 is peaked at 272 nm. The 4f-5d transitions of Eu 2 + consist of a band peaked at 310 nm with a shoulder at 280 nm and also include the bands peaked at 238 (weak) and 203 (strong) nm. The result of XANES spectrum at Eu-L 3 edge of the synthesized sample indicates that Eu 3 + and Eu 2 + coexist in SrB 4 O 7 :Eu prepared in air, which is consistent with the results of the VUV-UV spectra.