United in Diversity - Flying the Flag

3.03.57pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 9th May 2008

Jerry Patterson shows off the flag at the Council's offices

The Vale's Liberal Democrat Group has welcomed the Council's move to celebrate Europe Day by flying the European Flag on its building on May 9th. The iconic flag has been a symbol of European unity since it was first adopted by the Council of Europe in 1955. The flag was adopted by the European Community in 1985 and it has since become an important symbol of European Unity across the continent.

The celebration of Europe Day on May 9th marks the anniversary of the initial proposal in 1950 that France and West Germany should combine the management of their coal and steel industries to remove the physical means for making war from the two countries. This initial step, supported by Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, led to the emergence of the European Community, which Britain joined in 1973 under Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath, and the European Union, which came into being in 1993.

Cllr Jerry Patterson said: "Flying the European flag in Abingdon is a simple way to celebrate the fact that Britain is a part of Europe and that the efforts since 1945 to work more closely together have delivered peace and prosperity across the continent. There are many people who criticise the EU - and it is not without its problems - but we should all reflect on how far Europe has moved forward since the devastation of the 1940s. I am proud that the Vale has this year publicly marked the key role the EU has had in all our lives."