|
On 8 December 1955, the Ministerial Committee of the Council of Europe chose a circle of twelve golden stars on a blue background as its flag. The number twelve has been the number of perfection since antiquity and blue represents the sky over the western world. The EC, now the European Union, adopted the flag as its official symbol on 21 April 1986.
|
 |
| Flag of the European Union |
|
In 1972, the Council of Europe introduced a version of the final movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony ("Ode to Joy") as the European anthem. Since 1986, the anthem has also been used by the European Community, the present European Union.
|
 |
European anthem
Recording: Peter Herbolzheimer, Jazzzeit Story, 1994
Format: RealAudio, 1 min, 30 secs
Required plug-in: Real Player |
|
