Nowadays it flies throughout our continent, the blue flag bearing twelve golden stars.
Ever since being adopted by the Council of Europe and its then 14 member states in 1955, the European flag has been an expression of the will of a growing number of states and peoples to work together to build peace and prosperity in a continent where the common values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law prevail and where full advantage is taken of diversity.
In 1986, the European Communities (now the European Union) adopted the same flag, as they used their own political and institutional methods to pursue the same fundamental aim.
Flying alongside national flags outside town halls and the regional and national political institutions throughout Europe, the blue and gold flag not only marks the presence of European institutions in Strasbourg, Brussels and Luxembourg, but is also a token of Europe's presence worldwide.
The European Flag
After its foundation in 1949, the Council of Europe soon realised it needed clear symbols to show its commitment to European unity. The European Flag, adopted in 1955, represents the ideas of European unity and identity. The European Union has used the same flag since 1986.
How the twelve stars were born
The idea for a European flag dates from the early 1920s. Neither of the two main forerunners, Count Coudenhove-Kalergi’s Pan-European Union flag, a yellow circle with a red cross on a blue background, and the European Movement’s green E on a white background, gained much support and no serious attempt was made to promote the idea of a flag until the Council of Europe became Europe’s first official political organisation in 1949.
At the beginning of the 1950s, various groups of experts, boards and committees looked long and hard at over a hundred suggestions from artists, heraldry experts and enthusiastic amateurs all over the world. But no decision was reached.
In April 1955, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers shortlisted two designs. The first was by Arsène Heitz, a member of staff, and depicted a crown “of 12 five-pointed golden stars, their points not touching” and the second, a constellation of stars proposed by Salvador de Madariaga.
In December 1955, following approval by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, the Committee of Ministers finally adopted the first design. All European institutions were urged to adopt it. It was inaugurated by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers at the Château de la Muette in Paris on 13 December 1955. The flag was now official.
A powerful symbol
The circle of twelve golden stars against a blue background symbolises the peoples of Europe, with the circle representing their union. The number of stars never changes - it is always twelve, symbolising the ideals of unity and harmony and bringing to mind the months of the year and the twelve signs of the zodiac.
The flag gained public recognition throughout Europe. At the Universal Exhibition in Brussels in 1958 it was flown on public buildings all over the city.
A symbol for the whole of Europe
In 1983 the European Parliament, the elected body of the European Union, in turn adopted the flag devised by the Council of Europe and recommended that it become the emblem of the European Communities. Following the Council of Europe’s consent, in June 1985 the European Council (EU Summit) gave its formal approval.
Since 1986, both the Council of Europe and the European Communities (and subsequently, the European Union, following the entry into force of the Maastricht Treaty) have been represented by the European flag and emblem. The flag depicting twelve golden stars on a blue background has now become the symbol par excellence of European identity and a united Europe.
European Anthem
In 1971 the Parliamentary Assembly decided to propose adopting the prelude to the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's 9th Symphony as the European anthem. The Committee of Ministers gave its approval a few months later. It was Herbert von Karajan who prepared the musical arrangement of the anthem, adapted it for orchestra and conducted the performance used to make the official recording. The anthem was launched via a major information campaign on Europe Day in 1972. It was also adopted by the European Communities in 1986, thus becoming another shared symbol for all Europeans.
A Council of Europe CD, including the first hip hop version of the European anthem world-wide, was put on sale to the public in April 2004. Entitled "Variations", it includes other adaptations of the "Ode to Joy", in particular symphony orchestra, organ, piano (classical and jazz), rock guitar, jazz violin, techno and trance versions.
In 1971 the Parliamentary Assembly decided to propose adopting the prelude to the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's 9th Symphony as the European anthem. The Committee of Ministers gave its approval a few months later. It was Herbert von Karajan who prepared the musical arrangement of the anthem, adapted it for orchestra and conducted the performance used to make the official recording. The anthem was launched via a major information campaign on Europe Day in 1972. It was also adopted by the European Communities in 1986, thus becoming another shared symbol for all Europeans.
A Council of Europe CD, including the first hip hop version of the European anthem world-wide, was put on sale to the public in April 2004. Entitled "Variations", it includes other adaptations of the "Ode to Joy", in particular symphony orchestra, organ, piano (classical and jazz), rock guitar, jazz violin, techno and trance versions.