UN, NATO, EU, federal, state and municipal flags (Part 2)

There is no official order in which the flags of international and supranational organizations are to be displayed, although it has become standard practice to give flags of multilateral organizations (UN, NATO) precedence over the European flag.

Size of flags (Part 1)

If several flags are displayed at one building, they should all be the same size (Section V (3) second sentence of the Federal Government Decree concerning flag displays at federal buildings). In the same way, flags displayed indoors should be in proportion to the space and its use.

In this large, high-ceilinged conference room in Dresden, standing flags would have been difficult to see and would not have served their decorative purpose. Instead, the flags were hung at different heights, creating a major visual impact. The flags are hung in alphabetical order of the names of the member states in their own official languages.

Half-mast flag display at the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community

If the federal institutions flag or the federal flag is to be flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning, the European flag must also be flown at half-mast. The flags should first be hoisted to the peak and then immediately lowered to the half-mast position (Section V (4) of the Federal Government Decree concerning flag displays at federal buildings).

The lower edge of the flag should be positioned one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the flagpole. At the end of the mourning period, the flag should again be raised to the peak before it is lowered. Flags flown at half-mast should not bear black crepe streamers.

Flags in banner format are not flown at half-mast but instead bear black crepe streamers.