The melody used to symbolize the EU comes from the Ninth Symphony composed in 1823 by Ludwig Van Beethoven, when he set music to the “Ode to Joy”, Friedrich von Schiller’s lyrical verse from 1785. In 1972, the Council of Europe adopted Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” theme as its anthem.
The anthem consists of music only and expresses the European ideals of freedom, peace and solidarity; the shared values of the European countries.
