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[[de:Europaflagge]] [[el:&#917;&#965;&#961;&#969;&#960;&#945;&#970;&#954;&#942; &#963;&#951;&#956;&#945;&#943;&#945;]] [[it:Bandiera Europea]]
[[nl:Europese vlag]]
[[pl:Flaga Unii Europejskiej]]

<div style="float:right;margin-left:0.5em;">[[Image:euflag.png]]</div>

The '''[[flag]] of [[Europe]]''' is twelve golden stars in a circle on a blue background.

Although the flag is most commonly associated with the [[European Union]], it was initially used by the [[Council of Europe]], 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 a somewhat different co-existing organisation formed by members of the European Community, 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.  [http://europa.eu.int/abc/symbols/emblem/index_en.htm]

== History accompanying the flag ==
<div style="margin-left:0.2em;width=82%">
<table border="1" width="100%">
<tr><td>'''Year'''</td>
    <td>'''Event'''</td></tr>

<tr><td>1949</td>
  <td>The Council of Europe was formed in the aftermath of the [[Second World War]].</td></tr>

<tr><td>'''1955'''</td>
  <td valign="top">'''The Council of Europe creates for itself what is now also the EU flag, as a focus for European unity'''</td></tr>

<tr><td valign="top">1957</td>
  <td> European Economic Community founded by the [[Treaty of Rome]]:     [[Belgium]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Luxembourg]] and the [[Netherlands]] - ''"The Six"''</td></tr>

<tr><td valign="top">1967</td>
  <td>European Community formed by a merger of the EEC, Euratom founded 1957) and The European Coal &amp; Steel Community (founded 1951)</td></tr>

<tr><td>1973</td>
  <td>[[United Kingdom]] joined the EC, together with [[Ireland]] and [[Denmark]] making ''"The Nine"'' ([[Norway]] opted to stay out)</td></tr>

<tr><td>1981</td>
  <td>[[Greece]] joined, making ''"The Ten"''</td></tr>

<tr><td>1986</td>
  <td>[[Portugal]] and [[Spain]] joined making ''"The Twelve"''</td></tr>

<tr><td width="6%">'''1986'''</td>
  <td width="94%">'''EC adopts (with permission) the Council of Europe Flag as its own. <u>12 Stars &amp; 12 States'''.</u></td></tr>

<tr><td>1992</td>
  <td>Maastricht Treaty</td></tr>

<tr><td>1993</td>
  <td>Maastricht Treaty Ratified. European Single Market completed.     The European Union is launched.</td></tr>

<tr><td>1995</td>
  <td>[[Austria]], [[Finland]] and [[Sweden]] join the EU making ''"The Fifteen"''</td></tr>

</table></div>

''See also [[European anthem]], [[Europe day]], [[European motto]].''

== External link ==
* [http://europa.eu.int/abc/symbols/emblem/graphics1_en.htm Graphical specifications for the European Emblem]
* [http://www.proeurope.org EU Flag Site]

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====References====
* Adapted from the [[Wikipedia]] article, "European_flag" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_flag http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_flag], used under the [[GNU Free Documentation License]]