This is a list of international, national and subnational flags used in Europe.
Supranational and international flags An incomplete list of flags representing intra-European international and supranational organisations, which omits intercontinental organisations such as the United Nations:
Flag Date Use Description 1957–1958 Flag of the Benelux Combines features from the flags of the member countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. ?–2015 Flag of the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine 2015–present 1990s–present Flag of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) 1991–present Flag of the Commonwealth of Independent States The flag of the Commonwealth of Independent States is blue with the emblem of the organisation in the centre. 1955– Flag of the Council of Europe A circle of twelve upward-oriented five-pointed golden stars centred on a blue field: represents the continent beyond the organisations as the Flag of Europe. 1986– Flag of the European Union 1973–1983 Flag of the European Parliament 1984– Flag of the Nordic Council White stylised swan in a white circle upon a blue background. 1953– Flag of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization A dark blue field charged with a white compass rose emblem from which radiate four white lines. 2006– Flag of the European Gendarmerie Force 2006– Flag of the European Maritime Force
Flags of European sovereign states
Flag Date Use Description 1912–19462002– Flag of AlbaniaSee also: List of Albanian flags The flag of Albania, adopted in April 1912, is a red flag with a black double-headed eagle in the centre. It is derived from the seal of Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, a 15th-century Albanian who led a revolt against the Ottoman Empire that resulted in brief independence for Albania from 1443 to 1478. 1866– Flag of AndorraSee also: List of Andorran flags The flag of Andorra, adopted in 1866, is a tricolour of blue, yellow, and red with the coat of arms of Andorra in the centre. It is based on the flags of France and Catalonia. The coat of arms of Andorra is partially based on the flag of Catalonia (four red ribbons on yellow background). 1918–19201991– Flag of ArmeniaSee also: List of Armenian flags After gaining independence, the First Republic of Armenia adopted the modern Armenian tricolour. The independent Armenian government selected the colours used during the last period of the Rubenid Dynasty: red, blue, and orange. The red emblematizes the Armenian Highland, the Armenian people's continued struggle for survival, maintenance of the Christian faith, and Armenia's independence and freedom. The blue emblematizes the will of the people of Armenia to live beneath peaceful skies. The orange emblematizes the creative talent and hard-working nature of the people of Armenia. 1918–19381945– Flag of AustriaSee also: List of Austrian flags Originally adopted in 1918, it was again officially adopted in 1945, after being banned during World War II.
Stripes of red and white have been a collective emblem of Austria for over 800 years, and they were first used on the flag in 1191. According to long-established legend, the red and white flag was designed to resemble the bloodstained white coat worn by the Duke of Austria during a fierce battle. 1918–19201991– Flag of AzerbaijanSee also: List of Azerbaijani flags Originally adopted in 1918 as a flag of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, it was officially adopted again in 1991, after Azerbaijan gained its independence.
The flag of Azerbaijan is the national ensign of Azerbaijan. It consists of three equal horizontal bands coloured blue, red, and green, with a white crescent and an eight-pointed star centred in the red band. The blue band refers to Turkic heritage, the red is for progress and Europeanisation and the green refers to Islam. 19952012– Flag of BelarusSee also: List of Belarusian flags Belarus's flag was officially adopted on 10 February 2012. The dominant red-green bicolour was used on its flag when it was a republic within the former Soviet Union. The woven fabric ornament at the hoist uses traditional Belarusian red and white colours. 1830– Flag of BelgiumSee also: List of Belgian flags Black, gold and red are symbolic of the country's coat of arms. The three-striped vertical layout was inspired by the French Tricolour. Black and gold were chosen, being the colours of the Duchy of Brabant where the Belgian Revolution started. Red was added as a symbol of the blood spilled during the uprising. 1998– Flag of Bosnia and HerzegovinaSee also: List of flags of Bosnia and Herzegovina The flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag. The remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle. The three points of the triangle stand for the three nations of Bosnia: Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs. It is said to represent the map of Bosnia. 1878–19471991– Flag of BulgariaSee also: List of Bulgarian flags The flag of Bulgaria was adopted in 1989 and consists of three horizontal bands of white, green, and red. 1990– Flag of CroatiaSee also: List of Croatian flags The flag of Croatia, adopted in December 1990, consists of three equal horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue and the coat of arms of Croatia in the centre. 1960– Flag of CyprusSee also: List of Cypriot flags The flag was officially adopted on 16 August 1960.
The island is depicted in a copper shade representative of its name: the name Cyprus has roots in the Sumerian word for copper (zubar), from the large deposits of copper found on the island. The crossed green olive branches symbolise the hope for peace between the Turks and the Greeks. It was designed by İsmet Güney, a Turkish Cypriot painter. 1920– Flag of the Czech RepublicSee also: List of Czech flags The first flag of Czechoslovakia was white over red, and those colours are the heraldic colours of Bohemia. The blue triangle was added to the flag to distinguish it from the flag of Poland, and blue is said to represent the State of Moravia. 1219– Flag of DenmarkSee also: List of Danish flags The world's oldest state flag still in use. Legend has it that it appeared as a sign from heaven to King Valdemar II in 1219.
Known as the Dannebrog ("Danish Cloth"), this blood-red flag with an off-centred white cross (a "Nordic cross") became a model for other regional flags. 1918–19401990– Flag of EstoniaSee also: List of Estonian flags Officially re-adopted on 8 May 1990. The story of the flag begins on 17 September 1881, when the constituent Assembly of the first Estonian national student Corps "Vironia" (modern Estonian Students Society) in the city of Tartu was also identified in colour; it later became national. The first flag was made in 1884 and this tricolour was accepted in 1918 as the national flag of Estonia. The original flag is still in existence. The first flag of Estonia is kept in Tartu Estonian National Museum.
Blue represents loyalty, and the country's beautiful blue skies, seas, and lakes; black is symbolic of past oppression and the fertile soil; and white represents virtue, winter snows, and Estonia's long struggle for freedom and independence. 1918– Flag of FinlandSee also: List of Finnish flags Officially adopted on 29 May 1918.
The off-centred blue cross is based on the Nordic cross, widely used on Nordic national flags. The blue colour is symbolic of blue skies, and the thousands of lakes in Finland. The white represents the winter snows. 1794–18141830– Flag of FranceSee also: List of French flags Officially adopted on 15 February 1794.
The tricolore consists of three vertical bands of equal width, displaying the country's national colours: blue, white, and red. The blue band is positioned nearest the flagstaff, the white in the middle, and the red on the outside. Red, white, and blue have come to represent liberty, equality, and fraternity—the ideals of the French Revolution. Blue and red are also the time-honoured colours of Paris, while white is the colour of the Royal House of Bourbon. 2004– Flag of GeorgiaSee also: List of Georgian flags This recently adopted flag is a simple white rectangle, with a central red cross connecting all four sides of the flag; in each of the four corners is a small red cross. The flag is based on a historic five-cross design that dates back to the 14th century. 1919–19331949– Flag of GermanySee also: List of German flags Officially re-adopted on 23 May 1949, and subsequently used by West Germany while the country was divided into East and West before reunification in 1990.
The tricolour flag was designed in 1832, and the black, red, and gold colours were taken from the uniforms of German soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars (Out of the blackness (black) of servitude through bloody (red) battles to the golden (gold) light of freedom. Scheidler, Karl Hermann (1865-08-05) , Leipzig, 98) or taken from the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire. 1822 (civil flag)1978– Flag of GreeceSee also: List of Greek flags The current flag of Greece was adopted as a civil flag and ensign in 1822, and as the national flag in 1978.
It features a white cross and a combination of nine (five blue and four white) horizontal stripes. The shade of blue has varied over the years, and darker blue (shown) is now commonly used. The alternating white and blue stripes are said to represent the nine syllables of the phrase "Eleftheria i thanatos" ("Freedom or Death"), a popular motto during the Greek War of Independence. During the Kingdom of Greece, a crown was added in the centre of the cross.
Greece's national flag between 1822 and 1970 featured a simple white cross on a blue background. It is not known why this version was adopted, and not a blue cross on a white background as was popular in the War of Independence. During the dictatorship, a navy blue version of the current flag with proportions of 7:12 was used. 1957– Flag of HungarySee also: List of Hungarian flags The flag of Hungary was officially adopted in 1957, first appearing in 1848.
The dominant crimson red, white, and teal green colours of the tricolour design are taken from the historical Hungarian coat of arms. Crimson red is said to symbolise strength, white faithfulness, and teal green hope. 19151944– Flag of IcelandSee also: List of Icelandic flags The flag of Iceland was adopted in June 1915 to represent Iceland. In June 1944 it became the flag of the independent republic of Iceland. Like other Scandinavian flags, it is based on the Nordic cross. It is a reverse colour image of the Flag of Norway. The blue represents the sea, the white represents the snow and glaciers, and the red symbolises volcanic lava. 1922– Flag of IrelandSee also: List of Irish flags Although dating from the 19th century, the tricolour flag of Ireland was not popularised until its use by rebels during the 1916 Easter Rising. It was officially adopted by the revolutionary First Dáil (assembly) of the Irish Republic on 21 January 1919, and used thereafter by the Irish Free State. The current 1937 Constitution of Ireland defines it as the national flag.