European Union Flag

International Organisation Flags

The European flag was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1955 and later adopted by the European Communities in 1985. Its twelve stars do not represent the number of EU member states.

Hoist Ratio 2:3 Fly

Basic Flag Information

Flag Name	European Union Flag
Category	International Organisation Flags
Adopted On	December 8, 1955
Flag Proportion	2:3
Flag Shape	Rectangle
Number of Colors	2
Main Colors	Reflex Blue, Gold
Design Type	Blue field with a circle of twelve gold stars

Flag Color Information

Color	Appearance	HEX Code
Reflex Blue		#003399
Gold		#FFCC00

Flag Design and Symbols

Reflex Blue colour	Represents the western sky
Gold colour	Represents the stars
Twelve stars	Not the number of member states — twelve is a traditional symbol of completeness and unity, and the number has never changed

About the European Union Flag

The European flag was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1955 and later adopted by the European Communities in 1985. Its twelve stars do not represent the number of EU member states.

WorldFlags.online keeps this design in the International Organisation Flags collection rather than presenting it as a current sovereign-state flag. That category determines how dates, status and reuse guidance should be read.

Design and construction

Blue field with a circle of twelve gold stars; recorded proportion 2:3.

Reference palette

The stored palette is Reflex Blue (#003399) and Gold (#FFCC00). These values are reference values for the artwork in this library and should not be treated as a legal colour specification unless the issuing body publishes one.

Symbols and meaning

Twelve stars: Not the number of member states — twelve is a traditional symbol of completeness and unity, and the number has never changed.

Date and authorship

The record dates the design to December 8, 1955.

Why this record is separate from national flags

Historical, organisational, political, identity, religious, regional and signal flags can be important reference material without having the status of a present-day national flag. Keeping those categories separate makes the library clearer and reduces the risk of presenting a historical or protected emblem as a current national symbol.

Verification sources

European Union — European flag — Record-specific source
European Union — European flag — Official organisation source

Facts about the Flag of European Union Flag

European Union Flag is filed under International Organisation Flags rather than the current national-flag index.
The recorded construction is blue field with a circle of twelve gold stars.
The reference proportion is 2:3.
The stored palette contains Reflex Blue and Gold.
The record dates this design to December 8, 1955.
Twelve stars: Not the number of member states — twelve is a traditional symbol of completeness and unity, and the number has never changed.
The European flag was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1955 and later adopted by the European Communities in 1985. Its twelve stars do not represent the number of EU member states.

Frequently asked questions about the European Union Flag

What is the European Union Flag?

The European flag was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1955 and later adopted by the European Communities in 1985. Its twelve stars do not represent the number of EU member states.

What type of flag is the European Union Flag?

It is catalogued under International Organisation Flags rather than the current sovereign-state flag index.

What does the European Union Flag look like?

Blue field with a circle of twelve gold stars, with a recorded proportion of 2:3.

What proportion is recorded for the European Union Flag?

The reference proportion stored for this record is 2:3.

Which colours are recorded for the European Union Flag?

The reference palette lists Reflex Blue #003399 and Gold #FFCC00.

What do the symbols on the European Union Flag mean?

Twelve stars — Not the number of member states — twelve is a traditional symbol of completeness and unity, and the number has never changed.

When is the European Union Flag dated or adopted?

The record gives December 8, 1955.