The symbol of 12 golden stars on a blue background was adopted by the Commission in 1985 and is widely used as a means of promoting the European identity. Although there happened to be 12 Member States at the time, the significance of the number lies elsewhere and is embedded in European Christian civilisation - thus the Virgin Mary's halo is traditionally a circle of 12 golden stars; and there are 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 apostles and 12 months in the Western year.
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