How many stars can be found on the Flag of the European Union?

The Flag of the European Union (EU) features a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background. The circle of stars has nothing to do with the number of member countries (27), nor the number of countries in Europe (44). Instead, it is a symbol of unity.

The number 12 is considered to be a significant number in many cultures and religions. Before the introduction of the metric system, several things were calculated in 12s, for example, 12 British pence in a shilling. There are also 12 hours in a day (24 including the night) and 12 months of the year. There were 12 Olympian Gods in the Greek Pantheon, 12 laps in Ancient Greek chariot races, 12 labours in the myth of Hercules, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 knights of King Arthur's Round Table, 12 gates of Paradise in Scandinavia, and so on.

So, the 12 stars on the EU flag stand for unity, solidarity and harmony among the people and countries in the union. The design was chosen in 1955 by the Council of Europe, although it was not adopted by all EU leaders until 1985.

The EU is a confederation of 27 member countries in Europe that evolved from the European Economic Community (EEC), which was established in 1957. The EEC used the same flag until the EU was formed in 1993. All countries in the EU share common laws, allowing the citizens of EU countries to move and trade freely in other EU countries.