Europese vlag bestaat vijftig jaar (en)

Strasbourg 14.11.2005 - Leaders of the European institutions are to mark the 50th anniversary of the European flag with a celebration at the Council of Europe's Strasbourg headquarters on 16 November at 2.30pm.

The European flag was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1955 from a variety of different designs. It was first officially used by the European Union in 1986 - making it a flag for both institutions, and the whole of Europe. The number of stars never changes: it is always 12, representing unity. It has now become the symbol par excellence of European identity.

The Council of Europe officials - Parliamentary Assembly President Rene van der Linden, President of the Ministers' Deputies Joachim Duarte and Secretary General Terry Davis - will be joined by European Union Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso for the official ceremony, when the European Flag will be raised. Teenagers will then gather outside the Palais de l'Europe to place the twelve stars on a giant flag on the lawn. The flag - which measures 45m by 25m - is the largest in the world and figures in the Guinness Book of Records.

More information on the history and symbolism of the flag can be found at http://www.coe.int/flag

A television spot will be available on the Council's website on Wednesday 16 November. Copies of the radio and television spots can be obtained from Michelle Maher, Press Division: +33 3 90 21 54 02.

Press Contact

Council of Europe Press Division

Tel. +33 3 88 41 25 60  - Fax. +33 3 88 41 39 11

E-mail: PressUnit@coe.int