David Westlund daw@wlug.westbo.se schrieb/wrote:
The best symbol for Europe *is* the ring of 12 stars, which is used in the flag adopted by both the European Union and the Council of Europe, of which all 41 European states are a member.
No it isn't.
What "isn't"?
* The flag is not a symbol of the Council of Europe? That's wrong.
* The Council of Europe does not have 41 member states? That's wrong too, it does.
* These 41 states are not virtually all European countries? Then name one European country that isn't.[1]
There are many countries that is a part of Europe, that isn't a member of EU.
The Council of Europe is not the EU but a much larger (and a bit older) international organisation. The flag in question is the flag of the Council of Europe too (and had been *before* the EU also adopted the flag) and also symblizes the *European* *Idea*, which includes *all* of Europe - even states that are not a member state of the Council.
It's only that people think of the Union first when they see the flag - but that's true with the name "Europe" too.
Claus ___________________ [1] OK, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Fed.Rep. of Yugoslawia are only Special Guests, the Holy See is only observer, and Monaco, Belarus, and some small dependent areas are missing.