European Union

The European Union flag features a circle of twelve golden five-pointed stars on a deep blue background. The stars stand for the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe. Their number is fixed at twelve: it symbolizes completeness and unity, not the number of EU member states. The circular arrangement expresses togetherness and equality, with no star placed above another. Originally adopted by the Council of Europe in 1955, the design was subsequently embraced by the European Communities in 1985 and became a widely recognized symbol of European cooperation. Although commonly called the EU flag, it is also used by the Council of Europe, which is a separate organization.

European integration began in the aftermath of the Second World War, when European countries sought lasting peace through economic and political cooperation. The European Coal and Steel Community was established in 1951, followed by the Treaties of Rome in 1957, which created the European Economic Community and Euratom. The European Communities expanded their cooperation over subsequent decades. The Maastricht Treaty entered into force on 1 November 1993, formally establishing the European Union and introducing a broader framework for cooperation and EU citizenship. Later treaties, including the Treaty of Lisbon, which entered into force in 2009, reshaped EU institutions and decision-making. The Union grew through successive enlargements, particularly in 2004, when ten countries joined. The United Kingdom left the EU in 2020. Today the EU brings together 27 member states and continues to develop policies on its single market, climate, digital transformation and international cooperation.

• The EU was formally established on 1 November 1993 when the Maastricht Treaty entered into force.
• Its roots reach back to the European Coal and Steel Community (1951) and the Treaties of Rome (1957).
• The EU flag always has twelve stars, regardless of the number of member states.
• The European anthem is based on the 'Ode to Joy' melody from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
• Europe Day is celebrated on 9 May, commemorating the 1950 Schuman Declaration.
• The EU operates a single market designed to facilitate the free movement of goods, services, capital and people.
• EU citizens can live and work in other EU countries under applicable EU rules.
• The European Parliament is directly elected by EU citizens.
• The EU has 24 official languages.

Key Facts:
• Established: 1993 (with earlier European Communities as predecessors)
• Member states: 27
• Main institutional locations: Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg
• Flag: Twelve golden stars in a circle on blue
• Main areas: Economic integration, legislation, peace, cooperation and shared policies

The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 European countries. Its purpose is to promote peace, shared values and the well-being of its peoples while enabling its member states to work together on issues that cross national borders. The EU's single market supports trade and the free movement of goods, services, capital and people. It also develops common rules and policies in areas such as consumer protection, competition, the environment, climate action, agriculture and regional development. Its main institutions include the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Central Bank. EU institutions are based in several cities, particularly Brussels, Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Frankfurt. The Union also coordinates external relations, humanitarian assistance and aspects of security cooperation, while member states retain important national powers. The European flag is an internationally recognizable emblem of these shared ambitions.