The flag of the European Union consists of twelve stars.
The European Union ( EU ) is an international political community that was established on November 1, 1993 , with the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union . The process of its creation was very complex and dates back to the end of the Second World War , thanks to the impetus of personalities such as the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Schuman .
The union is currently made up of twenty-seven members. It is important to keep in mind that this community does not cover the entire European continent: that is, there are countries in Europe that are not members of the EU, such as Switzerland or Norway . On the other hand, some regions that are not in the geographical territory of the EU, such as French Guiana or Guadeloupe , are part of the bloc as special territories.
Symbols of the European Union
There are various symbols that identify and represent the European Union, one of the most important being its flag. This is blue and a circle of twelve golden stars is placed on it. This number was chosen because it is considered the one that traditionally means unity and perfection.
However, we cannot forget that another of the identifying symbols of this organization is its anthem. This is the “Ode to Joy”, a poetic composition that was written by Friedrich von Schiller and later set to music by the great maestro Beethoven.
Its motto ( "Unity in diversity" ) and Europe Day (May 9) are other symbols that the European Union has.
The European Commission is one of the most important institutions of the European Union.
Political and legal system
The political and legal system of the EU is very complex, with mechanisms and regulations that have been modified several times throughout history. Its structure forms a kind of supranational government, with seven main institutions: the European Commission , the European Parliament , the European Council , the Council of the EU , the Court of Justice of the EU , the Court of Auditors and the European Central Bank .
In addition to the institutions mentioned, we must not forget the existence of other equally important organizations within the European Union. This would be the case, for example, of the European Ombudsman , the European Economic and Social Committee , the European Investment Bank or the Committee of the Regions .
Other considerations about the European Union
Most EU member countries share the same currency (the euro ) and form what is known as the Eurozone . However, there are members who still maintain their own currency.
When it comes to languages, it must be made clear that within the European Union there are 24 official languages. However, it is true that, as a general rule, in certain institutions such as the European Commission it is normal to work using languages such as Spanish, English, French and German.
To all this we should add the fact that the most widespread sport in the European Union, football, has a great continental competition: the UEFA Champions League .