EUROPEAN UNION FLAG

The Flag that flies outside our front entrance gets a lot of attention from those who don't know what it represents.

The European Flag features a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background. They stand for the ideals of unity, solidarity, and harmony among the peoples of Europe.

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The number of stars has nothing to do with the number of member countries, though the circle is a symbol of unity.

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The history of the flag goes back to 1955. The Council of Europe - which defends human rights and promotes European culture – chose the present design for its own use. In the years that followed, it encouraged the emerging European institutions to adopt the same flag.

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In 1983, the European Parliament decided that the Communities’ flag should be used by the Council of Europe. In 1985, it was adopted by all EU leaders as the official emblem of the European Communities, later to become the European Union.