Brussels, 20/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament is preparing to amend its Rules of Procedure in order to restate its attachment to the symbols of Europe (flag, anthem, motto, Europe Day), which were removed from the Lisbon Treaty at the request of countries such as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, which wanted at all cost to avoid any reference pertaining to a constitution in the new EU Reform Treaty. The European Parliament, on the other hand, considers that the symbols of Europe can help to reconcile citizens to the EU and to build a European identity that is complementary to their national identities. A draft report drawn up by Carlos Carnero Gonzales (PES, Spain), to be discussed and put to the vote of the constitutional affairs committee in early 2008 before being approved in plenary by a majority of MEPs, suggests including the following Article 202a in the EP's Rules of Procedure:
1) The Parliament recognises and adopts the following symbols of the European Union: - the flag, which is twelve golden stars in a circle on a blue background; - the anthem based on “The Ode to Joy” from the 4th movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's 9th symphony; - and the motto “United in Diversity”.
2) The Parliament celebrates Europe Day on 9 May.
3) The flag is flown in all EP buildings and on all official occasions.
4) The anthem is played at the opening of each constituent session and on other solemn occasions, mainly to greet heads of state or government and to welcome new members further to enlargement.
5) The motto appears on all official Parliament documents.
The plenary vote may be held on 8 May 2008, the day before Europe Day to which the EP will give special significance, it being the 50th anniversary of the Assembly.
EUROPE points out that 16 member states (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia) have signed a declaration annexed to the Lisbon Treaty in which they declare that the European flag, anthem, motto, currency and Europe Day will, as far as they are concerned, continue to be the symbols of a pan-European identity between citizens and of citizens' belonging to the EU. (H.B.)