226. Which of the following is the flag of the European Union?

Answer options

1. 2
2. 1
3. 4
4. 3

Explanation

The EU flag displays twelve golden five-pointed stars arranged in a circle on an azure field; the twelve symbolizes perfection and unity and does not denote the number of Member States. It was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1955 and taken over as an emblem by the European Communities in 1986. Within the German constitutional order, Article 23 of the Basic Law (the “Europe Article”) commits Germany to participation in a united Europe and permits the use of European symbols; federal flagging decrees provide for flying the EU flag, e.g., on Europe Day. The Federal Constitutional Court’s Maastricht (1993) and Lisbon (2009) judgments emphasize that such symbolism does not alter the EU’s status as a Staatenverbund (a union of states).