Article IV-1
The symbols of the Union.The flag of the Union shall be a circle of twelve golden stars on a blue background.
The anthem of the Union shall be based on the Ode to Joy from the Ninth Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven.
The motto of the Union shall be: United in diversity.
The currency of the Union shall be the euro.
9 May shall be celebrated throughout the Union as Europe day.
| Table of contents |
|
2 European motto 3 European currency 4 European anthem 5 Europe day 6 See also 7 External links |
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.
European flag
See main article: European flagEuropean motto
The European motto was first established through an unofficial process in 2000. Unity in diversity (Latin: In varietate concordia) was selected from entries proposed by school pupils submitted to the website http://www.devise-europe.org/,
Note: As of 2003, the motto is little known in the EU populace.
The euro (EUR or €) is the currency of twelve of the fifteen countries that form the European Union (and some outside it). The euro is divided into 100 cents. All euro coins have a common side showing the worth and a national side showing an image particular to the country it was issued in. Euro banknotes have a common design for each denomination on both sides. All the different coins can be used in all the participating member states.
The European anthem is based on the final movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's ninth symphony, which is based on Friedrich Schiller's ode An die Freude (Ode to Joy). Due to the large number of languages used in Europe, the anthem is purely instrumental and has no lyrics. The anthem was originally adopted by the Council of Europe in 1972.
It is played on official occasions by the Council of Europe and the European Union.
On 9 May 1950, Robert Schuman presented his proposal on the creation of an organised Europe, indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations.
This proposal, known as the "Schuman declaration", is considered to be the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union.
Today, the 9th of May has become a European symbol (Europe Day) which along with the single currency (the euro), the flag and the anthem, identifies the political entity of the European Union. Europe Day is the occasion for activities and festivities that bring Europe closer to its citizens and peoples of the Union closer to one another.
From Europe Day
Like the flag and the anthem, Europe Day is an appropriation from the Council of Europe which has celebrated its founding on 5 May 1949 as Europe Day since 1964. What is now the European Union adopted 9 May at the Milan summit in 1985. Some Europeans still prefer 5 May, since the Council of Europe was designed to defend human rights, parliamentary democracy and the rule of law, while the Schuman speech was proposing a sharing of French and German coal and steel.
In different languages
European currency
See main article: Euro.European anthem
Europe day
See also
External links
European flag
European motto
European anthem
