As EU leaders get down to the nitty-gritty of treaty negotiations in Nice, Friday sees the 45th anniversary of the European flag. The flag was adopted by the European Union in 1986.

The flag's twelve gold stars do not represent member states - as often thought - but symbolise completeness - as in 12 hours of a clock, 12 months in the year, 12 tables of Roman law.

The stars had to be symbolic because their number soon became subject to the inevitable euro-wrangles, France wanted 15 stars for the council of Europe's 15 member states in 1955. Germany objected because that would recognise the sovereignty of Saarland, and argued for 14. France objected because 14 would acknowledge the absorption of Saarland into Germany, and so on. Thirteen was ruled out for superstitious reasons.

The design's creation is variously attributed to Pal Levy, Gerald Slevin or Arsene Heitz.