The European flag reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004
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European flag

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The flag of Europe consists of a circle of twelve golden stars on a blue background.

European flag

Although the flag is most commonly associated with the European Union (EU), it was initially used by the Council of Europe (COE), and is thought to represent Europe as a whole as opposed to any particular organization such as the EU or the COE.

The flag was originally adopted by the Council of Europe on December 8, 1955, from a suggested design by the Chief Herald of Ireland. The Council of Europe from the beginning desired it to be used by other regional organizations seeking European integration. The European Community adopted it on May 26, 1986. The European Union, which was established by the Maastricht Treaty in the 1990s and is the successor of the European Community (among other organziations), also adopted the flag. Since then the use of the flag has been controlled jointly by all three organizations.

The number of stars on the flag is fixed at 12 and is not related to the number of member states of EU. It was in fact designed at a time when there were only six member states. The number represent the months and hours.[1]

History accompanying the flag

YearEvent

1949 The Council of Europe was formed in the aftermath of the Second World War.
1955 The Council of Europe creates for itself what is now also the EU flag, as a focus for European unity
1957 European Economic Community founded by the Treaty of Rome: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands - "The Six"
1967 European Communities formed by a merger of the EEC, Euratom (founded 1957) and The European Coal & Steel Community (founded 1951)
1973 United Kingdom joined the EC, together with Ireland and Denmark making "The Nine" (Norway opted to stay out)
1981 Greece joined, making "The Ten"
1986 Portugal and Spain joined making "The Twelve"
1986 EC adopts (with permission) the Council of Europe Flag as its own.
1992 Maastricht Treaty
1993 Maastricht Treaty Ratified. European Single Market completed. The European Union is launched.
1995 Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU making "The Fifteen" (Norway opted to stay out for the second time)
2004 Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta join the EU making "EU 25"

See also European symbols.

External links