Information on flag displays

The European flag (Part 1)

In the photo at far left, the European flag is properly hoisted. The flag on the right in the same photo, however, is upside down, as you can see from the stars. The flag in the photo below does not conform to official requirements: The top points of the five upper stars point upwards, while those of the seven lower stars point downwards. In the third photo, the stars are positioned correctly, but the appliqué on the vertical flag makes it look as though the stars are surrounded by a dark ring.

Empty flagpoles

If flags are to be hoisted on only some of the available flagpoles, then they should be hoisted on flagpoles next to each other, not leaving any empty flagpoles between them. This applies above all to displays of the European and federal (institutions) flag, which are intended to express the close relationship between the two.

Exceptions should be limited to special situations, for example at the Federal Chancellery, when various foreign flags must be hoisted in short succession on the centre of three flagpoles. Flags should always be hoisted on the flagpoles in the superior position, i.e. on the left of an observer facing the building, so that empty flagpoles will be on the right.

Flags of federal and state institutions

According to Section IV of the Federal Government Decree concerning flag displays at federal buildings, “all the authorities and offices of the Federation ... shall display the federal institutions flag”. In case of doubt concerning the entitlement to display the federal institutions flag, the competent highest federal authority in agreement with the Federal Ministry of the Interior decides which flag is to be displayed.

The federal institutions flag may be displayed only by federal authorities and offices; flags of state-level institutions are subject to similar provisions of the federal states.