The European flag, 12 yellow stars on a blue background, is a potent symbol of the European Union. Paris-based fashion brand Etudes Studio includes the European flag in their designs.

Support for the euro is at an all-time high across the continent. After 20 years of the single currency even the far-right no longer supports a return to national currencies although it is not without its critics.

Since 1992 the EU has made many attempts at fiscal harmonisation but with limited results.

Launched between 1985 and 1987, the Erasmus programme has allowed around 4 million students to study in another European country, an EU success story.

The European Union can’t seem to shake the image of an overbearing, bureaucratic, faceless regime.

With nationalist sentiment rising in many member states, Europe has been incapable of agreeing a common policy to deal with the migration crisis of recent years.

The European Union has broken down barriers between member states with the free movement of people, goods, services and capital. Border posts were taken down across the continent after the signing of the Schengen agreement.

The European Union Media Programme was created in the late 1980s to support the film and audio-visual sector across Europe. It has proved very successful: For every euro invested by the EU six euros is invested by the private sector.