The
history of the flag goes back to 1955. At that time, the European Union existed
only in the form of the European Coal and Steel Community. But a separate body
with a larger membership – the Council of Europe - had been set up several
years earlier and was busy defending human rights and promoting European
culture.
The
Council of Europe was considering what symbol to adopt for its own use. After
much discussion, the present design was adopted – a circle of twelve gold stars
on a blue background. In various traditions, twelve is a symbolic number
representing perfection. It is also, of course, the number of months in a year
and the number of hours shown on a clock face. The circle is a symbol of unity.
So the European flag was born, representing the ideal of unity among the
peoples of Europe.
The
Council of Europe then encouraged other European institutions to adopt the same
flag and, in 1983, the European Parliament took up the call. Finally, in 1985,
the flag was adopted by all EU heads of State and government as the official
emblem of the European Union – which, in those days, was called the European
Communities.
All
European institutions have been using it since the beginning of 1986.The
European flag is the only emblem of the European Commission – the EU's
executive arm. Other EU institutions and bodies use an emblem of their own in
addition to the European flag.
Exercise
Put in the missing sentences.
History of the flag
The history of the flag goes back to 1955. But a
separate body with a larger membership – the Council of Europe – had been set
up several years earlier and was busy defending human rights and promoting
European culture.
The Council of Europe was considering what symbol to
adopt for its own use. In various traditions, twelve is a symbolic number
representing perfection. The circle is a symbol of unity. So the European flag
was born, representing the ideal of unity among the peoples of Europe.
The Council of Europe then encouraged other European
institutions to adopt the same flag and, in 1983, the European Parliament took
up the call.
All European institutions have been using it since the
beginning of 1986. Other EU institutions and bodies use an emblem of their own
in addition to the European flag.
Key:
1E, 2A, 3C, 4B, 5D
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