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European Union

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

The Flag of Europe is the flag and emblem of the European Union (EU) and Council of Europe (CoE). It consists of a circle of 12 golden (yellow) stars on a blue background. It was created in 1955 by the CoE and adopted by the EU, then the European Communities, in the 1980s. The CoE and EU are distinct in membership and nature. The CoE is an international organisation with 46 members, dealing with human rights and rule of law, while the EU is a quasi-federal union of 27 states, focused on economic integration and political cooperation. Today, the flag is mostly associated with the latter. It was the intention of the CoE that the flag should come to represent Europe as a whole, and since its adoption the membership of the CoE covers nearly the entire Europe by the number of states involved, although only a little over half of the European continent by territory. This is why the EU adopted the same flag. The flag has been used to represent Europe in sporting events and as a pro-democracy banner outside the European Union.

The European Union

The European Union (EU) is a group of 27 countries that work together. Most of these countries are in Europe. They team up to make life better for everyone. Over 450 million people live in the EU!

Working Together

The EU helps countries trade, travel, and share ideas. People can visit many EU countries without showing their passports. This is thanks to a special area called the Schengen Area. Twenty-one countries use the same money, called the euro.

A Growing Family

The EU started with just six countries in 1993. Now, many more have joined. The United Kingdom left in 2020, but lots of other countries want to join someday. The EU also helps solve problems around the world.

Fun Facts

  • The EU won a special prize in 2012 for helping bring peace to Europe.
  • There are 24 official languages in the EU, including English, French, and German.
  • Big cities like Paris, Madrid, and Berlin are all part of the EU.

The EU shows how countries can work together for a better world!

Images

The Ancient Agora in Athens beautifully lit up during a special EU event in 2021.
Historical document signing for the European Coal and Steel Community in Paris, 1951.
Historians signing important treaties in Rome in 1957, marking the formation of European communities.
President Gerald R. Ford and members of the American delegation resting during the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in Helsinki, Finland, in 1975.
Historical document display from the Museum der Bayerischen Geschichte showing the Maastricht Treaty.
Official gathering for the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007, featuring leaders and flags of the European Union.
Official portrait of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
A group of ministers attending an economic meeting in Belgium in 2024.
Portrait of Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.
Leaders from EU Eastern Partnership countries meet for a group photo at a summit in Brussels.
A map showing how average yearly temperatures in European cities have changed from 1900 to 2017.
Portrait of Fathallah Sijilmassi in front of the Union for the Mediterranean headquarters.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on European Union, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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