Flying the Flag for Europe Day – Abingdon on Thames Town Council

Sunday 9 May marks Europe Day and the Town Council is flying the Flag of the Council of Europe on the County Hall to celebrate this day.

It was Britain’s wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill who first publicly suggested the creation of a “Council of Europe” in a BBC radio broadcast in March 1943.

Six years later , in May 1949, the United Kingdom was a founding member of the Council of Europe and the flag which we are flying became its flag in 1955. The UK remain members of the Council of Europe.

The Mayor of Abingdon Cllr Charlie Birks stated: “Founded in the aftermath of the Second World War the Council of Europe is to achieve a greater unity between its Members for the purpose of safeguarding and realizing the ideals and principles which are their common heritage, and facilitating their economic and social progress. We are proud to celebrate our membership on Europe Day and at the same time our town’s long standing links with our twin towns in Europe.”