BLOG

According to the official explanation, the stars intertwined in the flag represent the unity, solidarity, and harmonious coexistence of the peoples of Europe. The number of stars has nothing to do with the number of member states of the Council of Europe or the European Union. There are always twelve stars; adding or subtracting members from an organisation does not change the number of stars. As they say, while creating the emblem, various options were considered, and the number of stars also varied, but in the end, they agreed on 12. The number twelve is a symbol of perfection and is associated with the Gospel apostles, Jacob’s biblical sons, Hercules’s exploits, the number of months in the year, the signs of the zodiac, the gods of Olympus, and so on. According to some, the circle of stars symbolises the structure of power and government, like a round table.

The designer of this emblem, or now the flag, the Frenchman Arsène Heitz, writes that his source of inspiration when creating the symbol was the Revelation of John the Theologian, where we read, “And a great wonder appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev. 12:1). In general, this Gospel image had a significant influence on the tradition of European iconography, and you can find many images where the Virgin Mary is crowned with a crown of twelve stars.

The blue colour used as the emblem’s background resembles the sky and is a symbol of truth and intelligence. In addition, in Christian cult art, blue is often used to depict the robe of the Virgin Mary.

The Belgian Paul Levy, who was then an employee of the Council of Europe, participated in the creation of this emblem of Europe. He writes that he did not think about religious symbols when working on the emblem. According to him, the five-pointed star is often used in state heraldry and symbolises the desire for progress and education. At the same time, its solar colour (gold) is a symbol of greatness and enlightenment. One fact from the biography of Paul Levy is noteworthy: he was Jewish by nationality, and during World War II, he made a vow that if he survived the war alive, he would become a Christian. He kept his promise, and he was already a Christian when he worked on the European emblem.

The official statutes of European institutions do not mention religion, but Christianity is the foundation of European unity, and we cannot escape that. The system of values shared by the states united in European organisations today comes from Christianity. It is not surprising that the flags of the Council of Europe and the European Union are based on Christian aesthetics and symbolism.

In 1999, Georgia joined the Council of Europe. Membership in the Council of Europe gives official Georgian institutions the right to use the blue European flag as part of their state symbols. At the same time, the waving of the European flag in Georgia expresses the spirit of the Georgian people, who are loyal to and defenders of European ideals focused on human freedom.

The Story Behind Europe’s Flag: Symbol of Unity, History, and Values

In 1949, as Europe was still healing from the devastation of World War II, ten Western European countries—Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom—came together to form an international organisation called the Council of Europe. Its mission was clear and vital: to protect democracy and human rights while fostering cooperation across legal, cultural, and social domains. This marked a foundational step toward European unity in the aftermath of a fractured continent.

From 10 to 47: Growing the Council of Europe

Since its founding, the Council of Europe has expanded significantly. Starting with just 10 members in 1949, it now includes 47 countries. In 1955, during this period of growth and cooperation, the Council created a distinctive emblem: twelve golden stars arranged in a circle on a blue background. This symbol was later adopted in 1985 by the leaders of European countries as the official emblem representing European unity, becoming the predecessor to the flag of the European Union.

Though commonly referred to as a flag today, this symbol was initially conceived as an emblem—a logo meant to represent unity and shared values. Officially, it remains a logo that can be displayed on various surfaces, including a rectangular flag-like banner.

What Do the Stars Mean?

The twelve stars symbolise unity, solidarity, and harmonious coexistence among the peoples of Europe. Interestingly, the number of stars is fixed at twelve, independent of how many countries are members of the Council of Europe or the European Union. This choice reflects the symbolic importance of the number twelve throughout history and culture: it stands for perfection and completeness.

Twelve frequently appears in religious and cultural traditions. There were twelve apostles in the Gospel, twelve sons of Jacob in the Bible, twelve labours of Hercules in mythology, twelve months in the year, twelve signs of the zodiac, and twelve gods of Olympus in Greek mythology. Some interpret the circle of stars as symbolising a round table, representing equality and shared governance.

Inspiration from Christian Iconography

The emblem’s French designer, Arsène Heitz, cited a specific source of inspiration: a passage from the Book of Revelation in the Bible (Rev. 12:1), which describes “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” This powerful image of the Virgin Mary crowned with twelve stars has deeply influenced European religious art and iconography.

The emblem’s blue background, resembling the sky, symbolises truth and intelligence. In Christian art, blue represents the Virgin Mary’s robe, further tying the emblem’s colours to a rich spiritual tradition.

Multiple Perspectives on the Emblem’s Meaning

Belgian Paul Lévy, who helped design the emblem, took a different approach. As a Jewish man who converted to Christianity after surviving World War II, Lévy emphasised the emblem’s secular symbolism. He explained that the five-pointed stars are common in state heraldry and often represent progress and education, while their golden colour signifies greatness and enlightenment.

The official statutes of the Council of Europe and the European Union do not directly reference religion. Yet, the foundations of European unity are undeniably rooted in Christian values. The rights, freedoms, and democratic ideals embraced by member states today grew out of this cultural and religious heritage. It is, therefore, unsurprising that the emblem—and, by extension, the flag—draws on Christian aesthetics and symbolism.

Georgia and the European Flag

Georgia joined the Council of Europe in 1999, a milestone that granted its institutions the official right to use the blue European flag as one of its state symbols. For Georgians, displaying the European flag is more than a formal act—it expresses the spirit and aspiration of the Georgian people to remain loyal defenders of European ideals centred on human freedom and dignity. Today, as the current Georgian government attempts to distance the country from Europe, the European flag has taken on a new significance: it has become a powerful symbol of the pro-European protesters who continue to stand for democracy, integration, and shared values.

First published in Georgian on www.euroambebi.eu in 2021 and translated for the EU Awareness Centre.

Téa Parulava

May 2025