Portal:European Union/Selected article/14

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The European flag consists of a circle of twelve golden stars 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 was intended to represent Europe as a whole as opposed to any particular organisation such as the EU or the COE. The flag appears on the face of all euro currency banknotes, and the stars on euro coins as well as driving licences and licence plates issued in the member countries of the EU.

The flag was originally adopted by the Council of Europe on December 8, 1955, from one of many designs attributed to Arsène Heitz. On 25 October 1955 the Parliamentary Assembly made the unanimous decision to adopt a circle of gold stars on a blue background as an emblem. On 8 December 1955 the Committee of Ministers adopted this as the European flag. "Against the blue sky of the Western world, the stars represent the peoples of Europe in a circle, the symbol of unity. Their number shall be invariably set at twelve, the symbol of completeness and perfection ... just like the twelve signs of the zodiac represent the whole universe, the twelve gold stars stand for all peoples of Europe – including those who cannot as yet take part in building up Europe in unity and peace."