European motto

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European Union flag

The European motto is the motto United in diversity ( Latin translation: “In varietate concordia”), which as one of the symbols of the European Union is intended to contribute to the creation of a European identity .

history

Mission statements, currencies and mottos for states and associations of states have a long tradition. The best known is probably the E pluribus unum of the USA , which was also recognizable as the godfather of the European motto. Because of the effects of the Reich Deputation in 1803 , the philosophers Schelling , Baader and Schlegel were very concerned that the rich European history and the unique culture of diversity in Europe should not be sacrificed and that cultural diversity should therefore be given priority. Nevertheless, the European motto was created relatively late and in particular is considerably younger than the European anthem from the Council of Europe in 1972, which was introduced in 1985. The European flag , which was first used by the Council of Europe in 1955, has been in the EU since 1985.

It was only selected in 2000 as part of a competition involving students from the then 15 Member States. The following suggestions made it to the final round:

  • "Peace, Freedom, Solidarity"
  • "Our differences are our strength"
  • "United in peace and democracy"
  • "United in freedom"
  • "An old continent, new hope"
  • "All different, all Europeans"
  • "Unity in Diversity"

In the end, the last-mentioned proposal prevailed, and the syntax was soon reformulated ("United in diversity" instead of "Unity in diversity").

After its adoption by the President of the European Parliament , Nicole Fontaine , the European motto finally found its way into the Treaty on a Constitution for Europe, which had not yet come into force due to a lack of ratification . There it appears not only in the preamble, but is also mentioned in Art. I-8 as one of the symbols of the European Union.

Meaning of the motto

According to the European Union's own statement on its website, the motto is "that the Europeans work together for peace and prosperity through the EU, and that the many different cultures, traditions and languages ​​in Europe are an asset to the continent."

A series of posters is always published on the occasion of Europe Day on May 9th. In 2004 and 2005 the motto was immortalized on the posters for Europe Day .

Mottos with the same content exist in South Africa ( ǃke e: ǀxarra ǁke ; ǀXam language ) and Indonesia ( Bhinneka Tunggal Ika ) as well as the motto of the 100th German X-ray Congress .

The motto in the 24 official languages ​​of the EU

  • Bulgarian  - Обединен в многообразието
  • Danish  - Forenet i mangfoldighed
  • German  - United in diversity
  • English  - United in diversity
  • Estonian  - Ühinenud mitmekesisuses
  • Finnish  - Moninaisuudessaan yhtenäinen
  • French  - Unie dans la diversité
  • Greek  - Ενωμένοι στην πολυμορφία
  • Irish  - Aontaithe san éagsúlacht
  • Italian  - Unita nella diversità
  • Croatian  - Ujedinjeni u različitosti
  • Latvian  - Vienota dažādībā
  • Lithuanian  - Suvienijusi įvairovę
  • Maltese  - Magħquda fid-diversità
  • Dutch  - In verscheidenheid verenigd
  • Polish  - Zjednoczona w różnorodności
  • Portuguese  - Unida na diversidade
  • Romanian  - Uniți în diversitate
  • Swedish  - Förenade i mångfalden
  • Slovak  - Zjedotení v rozmanitosti
  • Slovenian  - Združena v raznolikosti
  • Spanish  - Unida en la diversidad
  • Czech  - Jednotná v rozmanitosti
  • Hungarian  - Egység a sokféleségben

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ 100th German X-ray Congress: "There really is only one 100th congress - you should be there!". Accessed on March 22, 2019 .