The flag of the European Union is the official symbol of the EU and, originally, of the Council of Europe. Adopted by the Council in 1955 and by the European Communities (later EU) in 1985, it shows twelve gold stars arranged in a circle on a blue field.
The design
The Flag of the European Union is a national emblem rendered in the colours and proportions defined by the country’s flag law. Its official aspect ratio is 2:3, the height-to-length ratio that fixes how the flag should be cut and flown. The colour scheme uses blue, gold, with each shade specified to particular Pantone or RGB values for official reproduction.
Colour palette
| Colour | Name | Common symbolism |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | blue | Frequently symbolises sky, sea, freedom, vigilance or perseverance. |
| Gold | gold | Stands in for sunlight, mineral wealth or sovereign authority. |
| Source | Official flag law | The country’s own statute or constitutional appendix specifies exact shades and proportions. |
Symbolism & heraldry
A circle of twelve five-pointed gold stars on an azure field. The number twelve is fixed — it does not represent the number of member states, but rather completeness, unity, and harmony, drawing on classical and Christian symbolism (the twelve months, the twelve hours, the twelve apostles, the twelve labours of Hercules). The circle is one of perfection.
Heraldic elements on the Flag of the European Union — bands, charges, emblems or stars — each carry meaning agreed at the moment of the flag’s adoption. Re-readings happen across generations: a colour or a symbol that began with one meaning often picks up further layers as the country’s history unfolds.
Adoption & history
The current flag was adopted in 1985. It is credited to Arsène Heitz and Paul M. G. Lévy (1955). Earlier banners flown by reflected the politics of their day; each redesign typically marked a moment of independence, regime change or constitutional reform. The current flag was chosen, debated and codified through the country’s official channels and is now protected by flag law.
Etiquette & protocol
The Flag of the European Union should be flown with respect: never allowed to touch the ground, never used as drapery for ceremonies it was not made for, and lowered or removed at sundown unless illuminated. When flown alongside other national flags, it takes precedence on home soil and is hoisted first and lowered last. On days of national mourning, the flag is flown at half-mast in line with directives from the head of state. These conventions are common to most nations and are usually written into the flag’s founding statute.
Specifications
| Field | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Country | — | |
| Continent | Europe | — |
| ISO alpha-2 | 2-letter code | |
| ISO alpha-3 | 3-letter code | |
| Adopted | 1985 | year of current design |
| Proportion | 2:3 | height : length |
| Colours | blue, gold | — |
| Designer | Arsène Heitz and Paul M. G. Lévy (1955) | — |
| Emoji | 🇪🇺 | Unicode codepoint sequence |
Did you know?
When new states joined and the membership reached twelve, then thirteen, then more, there was occasional public confusion that stars should be added. The design is fixed at twelve and is not a count.
About the organisation
EU was founded in 1993. Its headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium.
Member states
EU has 27 member states. Membership current as of 2024-01.
