European Union Flag

Description

The European Union flag is available from Flags Online in full-size and desk formats, printed on both sides and made to last outdoors.

About the European Union Flag

The European Union flag is not a national flag at all, but the emblem of a political and economic union of member states, and it is recognised almost as widely as any country’s banner. It shows a circle of twelve gold stars on a deep blue background.

Colours and Symbolism

Blue represents the sky and, by extension, the wider world beyond any single nation’s borders. The twelve gold stars are arranged in a circle rather than in a row, a deliberate choice meant to suggest unity and completeness rather than any hierarchy between them. The number twelve is fixed and does not correspond to the number of member states, which has changed many times since the flag was created; instead it draws on the traditional symbolism of twelve as a number of perfection and wholeness, similar to its use for the months of the year or the hours on a clock face.

History of the European Union Flag

The design was created in 1955 for the Council of Europe, a separate and older organisation than the EU, as that body looked for a symbol that could represent a united Europe without favouring any single nation’s colours or imagery. The European Communities adopted the same design for their own use in 1985, and it carried over into the European Union when that body was established by treaty in 1993. Because the Council of Europe still uses the identical flag today, the twelve-star design is technically shared between two distinct European institutions, even though most people associate it solely with the EU.

Flying and Displaying the Flag

The flag is flown outside EU institutions in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg, and alongside national flags at many government buildings across member states, particularly on Europe Day, 9 May. It is also a familiar sight on vehicle number plates and official documents throughout the bloc. Because the flag represents an institution rather than a nation, it is generally flown together with, rather than instead of, national flags, and protocol usually places the European Union flag alongside the relevant national banner rather than above or below it.

European Union Flag Sizes and Pricing

• 180 x 120cm — R860
• 22 x 15cm Desk Flag (10 units) — R800
• 10 x 15cm Desk Flag (10 units) — R650
• 90 x 60cm — R400

Material and Construction

Made from 100% polyester bunting material and digitally printed on both sides. Hemmed all around with two rows of stitching and finished with a polyester webbing heading. Rope and toggle for hoisting included.

Supplied in packs of 10. Printed on both sides onto polyester and supplied with a black plastic stick and removable base — take the base off and it doubles as a hand waving flag.

Ordering and Delivery

Every European Union flag is printed to order and dispatched from our Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Johannesburg branches, with courier delivery nationwide. Bulk and school orders are welcome — contact us for volume pricing on quantities of 10 or more.

Additional information