Germany unveils EU presidency logo
30.11.06 @ 11:24
BRUSSELS - The German government has unveiled the logo for its six-month stint at the helm of the EU starting in January.
Germany prefers its own presidency logo over the special EU birthday emblem (Photo: German federal government)
The logo, which makes a somewhat low-key impression compared to the sophisticated designs of the Finnish and Austrian presidencies this year, shows the web address of the German presidency eu2007.de, with coloured elements reflecting the German and EU flags.
"I believe we have found a fresh and friendly logo. The logo promotes both the European idea and Germany as an innovative, creative and sympathetic country," a government spokesman said on Wednesday (29 November).
A statement from Berlin said that "the logo will be used for all EU-related public projects, products and actions of the federal government."
The German presidency logo already made news before its official launch when Berlin indicated earlier this month that it prefers the use of the presidency image over a special logo promoted by the European Commission for the EU's 50th anniversary next year.
A jury representing EU institutions and member states last month picked an anniversary logo stating in colourful letters "Together since 1957," referring to the 1957 Rome Treaty which set the ground for the current EU.
But Germany does not want to use two images at the same time during its presidency, which coincides with celebrations marking the EU's 50th birthday, and will therefore not use the special anniversary logo, a German spokesman confirmed.
Logos appear to be increasingly the subject of high Brussels politics, with France recently sending an official complaint to the commission over the 50th birthday logo suggesting that it fails to symbolize European unity. Finland also expressed anger that the commission did not consult it on the matter - an allegation which the commission denies.
Meanwhile, the logo of the Austrian presidency in the first half of this year - a high-profile design by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas showing the flags of all EU states - depicted the colours of the Estonian flag in the wrong order.
The image of the UK 2005 presidency, showing twelve geese, was the subject of mockery last year when a variation of the logo - showing the geese falling to the ground apparently dying of bird-flu - was e-mailed around Brussels offices.
