Hansard

EU: Flag and Anthem

Volume 700: debated on Friday 25 April 2008

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Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the legal status of the European Union flag and anthem (a) in the United Kingdom; and (b) in the rest of the European Union. [HL1989]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(Lord Malloch-Brown)

The EU flag and anthem have no legal status in UK or EU law.

The EU flag originated on 25 October 1955 when the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly took the unanimous decision to adopt a flag as its emblem. The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers adopted it as the European flag on 8 December 1955. In 1985, the European flag was adopted as the official emblem of the then European Communities by the heads of state and government. EU institutions have been using it since 1986.

Similarly, the Council of Europe adopted Beethoven's Ode to Joy as its anthem in 1972. It was adopted by the Heads of State or government of the then European Communities as the official anthem in 1985.