European Symbols

The 12 stars arranged in a circle on the flag symbolize the ideals of perfection, plenitude and unity. The European Flag is not only the symbol of the EU, but also the symbol of European unity and identity in a much larger sense. The circle of golden stars represents solidarity and harmony between the European people. The 12 stars do not represent the number of member states. Thus, the flag always stays the same, no matter of the EU enlargement process. The flag’s history begins in 1955. At that time the EU existed as the European Coal and Steel Community and had only 6 member states. Meanwhile, another European body, created in 1949, called the Council of Europe watched over the respect for Human Rights and the promotion of the European culture.

The Council of Europe was searching for a symbol to represent it. After long discussions the Council adopted the present model: a circle of 12 golden stars placed on a blue ground. In different traditions 12 is the symbolic number which represents integrity. Also the number 12 corresponds to the number of months in a year and the number of hours on the quadrant of the clock. The circle, it symbolizes unity.
The Council of Europe invited the rest of European Organizations to adopt the same flag. Thus, in 1983, the European Parliament chose this symbol, and in 1985, all the Heads of the States and Governments in the European Union adopted the official flag of the Union, which was called at that time the European Community.

Since 1986, the flag has become the symbol of all European Institutions. The European flag is the only symbol of the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union. Other institutions and bodies of the EU, besides the European flag, have their own emblem (see the Emblems of the European Institutions).


The music for the European anthem was taken from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony called Ode to Joy. As the European anthem, it is performed without lyrics. This anthem represents not only the European Union, it is

Listen the anthem of EU: here

considered the anthem of the entire Europe. The melody is taken from the last part of the 9th Symphony written by Beethoven in 1823. Creating the last part of the symphony Beethoven was inspired from the Ode to Joy written by Friedrich von Schiller in 1775. This poem expresses the idealistic view about the human being, a vision of brotherhood between people, which was shared by Beethoven too. In 1972, the Council of Europe (which already created the European flag) chose for its own anthem the melody from Beethoven’s Ode of Joy and proposed to the famous conductor Herbert von Karajan to write three arrangements for piano, wind instruments and symphonic orchestra. The anthem is performed without words, thanks to the universal language of music, evoking the ideals of freedom, peace and solidarity, ideals fully shared by the entire Europe.

In 1985, the Chiefs of States and Governments in the European Union decided to adopt this melody as the anthem of the European Union. The anthem does not intend to replace the national ones, but to celebrate the common European values and the unity expressed in the diversity.

The ideas at EU’s foundation were expressed for the first time on May 9, 1950 in the speech of the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, Robert Schumann. Nowadays, May 9 is the anniversary of Europe. May 9 is considered a European symbol (the Day of Europe) which, together with the European flag, anthem, motto and the single currency (Euro) identifies the European Union as a political entity. On the occasion of the Day of Europe there are a lot of activities and festivities which approach Europe to its citizens and bring closer the nations living in Europe.

The official poster of EU for 9th of MAy, 2006

But let us come back to May 9, 1950. That day the press was invited to the Quai d’Orsay for a very important communication. The first lines of the Declaration from May 9 1950 written by Robert Schumann, the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, and his counselor and friend Jean Monnet, invited France, Germany and other European countries to coordinate the steel and coal production, creating the bases of a European Federation. The project envisioned setting up a supranational European Institution authorized with the management of the raw materials, coal and steel which at that time provided the supplies for military forces. This project was initiated in the difficult conditions after the end of World War II, when the European states were in the process of recovering.

The project was supported and on May 9, 1950, the European construction began. During the Milan Summit of the European Council in 1985 the May 9 was accepted by the Chiefs of the State or Government as the day for the annual commemoration of Europe. This day refers not only to the citizens of the founding countries, but to all citizens from the 25 member states, because each country chooses in a democratic way to join or not the EU and automatically commits itself to respect the values from the Declaration from the 9th of May, 1950 referring to Peace, Social Progress, Economic Development and Solidarity.

See Robert Schuman’s Declaration

United in Diversity is the Motto of the European Union since May 2000. The motto was chosen in a competition among 80 000 young people between the age of 10 and 20 years. Officially the motto was mentioned for the first time in the Treaty for the Constitution of Europe signed in 2004 (the Articles 1-8 mention the different symbols of the European Union).

The motto reflects the fact that the Europeans are uniting their efforts towards peace and prosperity and that the variety of cultures, traditions and languages from Europe represents a big advantage for the continent.

See the posters that use the motto


At the origin of the Single Currency concept there are the founding Treaties of the European Union. The Treaty of Rome (1957) declared that the Common Market is one of the most important objectives of the European Community and it would contribute to a “stronger union between the nations of Europe”. The European Union Treaty (Maastricht Treaty1992) introduced the European Economic and Monetary Union and put the bases for the creation of a single currency. In December 1995, the Madrid Summit of the EU Council decided that the Single Currency would have the name of EURO.

Beginning with January 1, 2002, the Euro was introduced into circulation and in the pockets of the European citizens. At that moment, only 12 of the 15 member states adopted the Euro. Later, Greece joined the Euro Zone. Euro has become the symbol of the United Europe. The national coins and banknotes were withdrawn from circulation on February 28, 2002.

The graphic symbol of the single currency was inspired from the Greek letter epsilon, making thus the connection with the cradle of European civilization and democracy. It also makes the link with the first letters of the word "Europe." The two parallel lines of the graphic symbol represent the stability of the Euro.