Editing European Union (section)

===Symbols===
{{Further|European Heritage Label}}
[[File:Europa copy.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.75|[[Europa (mythology)|Europa]] and the Bull on a Greek vase, {{Circa|480 BC}}. [[Tarquinia National Museum]], Italy]]

The [[flag of Europe]] consists of a [[Circle of stars|circle of]] 12 golden stars on a blue background. Originally designed in 1955 for the Council of Europe, the flag was adopted by the [[European Communities]], the predecessors of the present European Union, in 1986. The Council of Europe gave the flag a symbolic description in the following terms,<ref name="36th">{{Cite web |date=9 December 1955 |title=Thirty-sixth meeting of the ministers' deputies: resolution (55) 32 |url=http://www.coe.int/t/dgal/dit/ilcd/fonds/themes/flags/Res(55)32_en.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528195931/http://www.coe.int/t/dgal/dit/ilcd/Fonds/Themes/Flags/Res%2855%2932_en.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2009 |access-date=2 February 2008 |publisher=Council of Europe}}</ref> though the official symbolic description adopted by the EU omits the reference to the "Western world":<ref name="1996guide">{{in lang|fr}} ''[https://www.cvce.eu/en/obj/guide_graphique_relatif_a_l_embleme_europeen_1996-fr-93eedaa0-b431-4ca8-ac7b-113ca01c0395.html Guide graphique relatif à l'emblème européen]'' (1996), p. 3: ''Description symbolique: Sur le fond bleu du ciel, les étoiles figurant les peuples d'Europe forment un cercle en signe d'union. Elles sont au nombre invariable de douze, symbole de la perfection et de la plénitude''...''Description héraldique: Sur fond azur, un cercle composé de douze étoiles d'or à cinq rais, dont les pointes ne se touchent pas''. cf. {{Cite web |title=Graphical specifications for the European Emblem |url=http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/emblem/graphics1_en.htm#symbol |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622134708/http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/emblem/graphics1_en.htm#symbol |archive-date=22 June 2006 |access-date=4 August 2004 |publisher=[[Europa (web portal)|European Commission]]}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|Against the blue sky of the Western world, the stars symbolise the peoples of Europe in a form of a circle, the sign of union. The number of stars is invariably [[12 (number)#Religion|twelve]], the figure twelve being the symbol of perfection and entirety.|Council of Europe. Paris, 7–9 December 1955.|source=}}

''[[Motto of the European Union|United in Diversity]]'' was adopted as the motto of the union in 2000, having been selected from [[A motto for Europe|proposals]] submitted by school pupils.{{sfn|Simons|2002|page=110}} Since 1985, the [[flag day]] of the union has been [[Europe Day]], on 9 May (the date of the 1950 [[Schuman declaration]]). The [[Anthem of Europe|anthem of the EU]] is an instrumental version of the prelude to the ''[[Ode to Joy]]'', the 4th movement of [[Ludwig van Beethoven]]'s [[Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)|ninth symphony]]. The anthem was adopted by European Community leaders in 1985 and has since been played on official occasions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Council of Europe |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/home |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091219175535/http://www.coe.int/T/E/Com/About_Coe/emblems/emblemes.asp |archive-date=19 December 2009 |website=www.coe.int}}</ref>
Besides naming the continent, the [[Greek mythology|Greek mythological]] figure of [[Europa (mythology)|Europa]] has frequently been employed as a [[National personification|personification]] of Europe. Known from the myth in which [[Zeus]] seduces her in the guise of a white bull, Europa has also been referred to in relation to the present union. Statues of Europa and the bull decorate several of the EU's institutions and a portrait of her is seen on the 2013 series of [[euro banknotes]]. The bull is, for its part, depicted on all residence permit cards.{{sfn|Demey|2007|page=387}}

[[Charlemagne|Charles the Great]], also known as Charlemagne ({{langx|la|Carolus Magnus}}) and later recognised as ''Pater Europae'' ("Father of Europe"),<ref name="ReferenceB">Riché, Preface xviii, Pierre Riché reflects: "[H]e enjoyed an exceptional destiny, and by the length of his reign, by his conquests, legislation and legendary stature, he also profoundly marked the history of Western Europe."</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Der Karlspreisträger Seine Heiligkeit Papst Johannes Paul II. außerordentlicher Karlspreis 2004 |url=http://www.karlspreis.de/preistraeger/seine_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii/ansprache_von_seiner_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117151907/http://www.karlspreis.de/preistraeger/seine_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii/ansprache_von_seiner_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii.html |archive-date=17 January 2012 |access-date=1 January 2012 |publisher=Karlspreis.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Chamberlin |first=Russell |title=The Emperor Charlemagne |publisher=[[The History Press]] |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7509-3482-4 |location=[[Stroud]], [[Gloucestershire]]}}</ref> has a symbolic relevance to Europe. The commission has named [[Charlemagne building|one of its central buildings]] in Brussels after Charlemagne and the city of [[Aachen]] has since 1949 awarded the [[Charlemagne Prize]] to champions of European unification.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laureates |url=http://www.karlspreis.de/en/laureates |access-date=12 February 2016 |website=karlspreis.de}}</ref> Since 2008, the organisers of this prize, in conjunction with the European Parliament, have awarded the [[European Charlemagne Youth Prize|Charlemagne Youth Prize]] in recognition of similar efforts led by young people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Winners 2015 |url=http://www.charlemagneyouthprize.eu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212170932/http://www.charlemagneyouthprize.eu/ |archive-date=12 December 2015 |access-date=12 February 2016 |website=charlemagneyouthprize.eu}}</ref>