Design analysis
The Council of Europe logo is a combined mark consisting of the organisation's European emblem — a circle of twelve five-pointed stars on a blue field — paired with the bilingual wordmark "Council of Europe / Conseil de l'Europe" set in a clean, humanist sans-serif. The emblem itself is a geometric construction: twelve equally spaced stars oriented upright, forming a complete circle that symbolises unity and completeness without representing any specific member state count. The mark works at small sizes because the star circle reads as a single strong shape even when the individual stars blur; the wordmark remains legible down to roughly 15 mm width thanks to open counters and generous tracking. In the legal and intergovernmental sector, where many identities rely on heraldic shields or classical columns, this emblem stands out for its modernist restraint and its deliberate avoidance of national symbolism.
Logo colors, measured
Colors extracted from the logo image itself (background removed), with share of the mark each color covers.
Click a chip to copy its hex code.
The measured palette — deep blue #1F458A (39%) and white #FFFFFF (2.3%) — aligns with the official European emblem specification (Pantone Reflex Blue / Process Blue). Blue conveys institutional authority, stability, and neutrality, which are essential for a legal body overseeing human-rights treaties. The near-absence of the emblem's traditional gold stars in the measured data suggests the analysed file may be a monochrome or reversed variant; in full-colour applications the gold (Pantone Yellow) provides the necessary contrast and warmth to prevent the identity from feeling cold or purely bureaucratic.
Variations & downloads
Color variants generated from the vector source — free to download for identification, editorial and research use.
Visually similar logos
Nearest neighbors in visual embedding space — marks that share shape and structure with the Council of Europe logo, regardless of color or industry.
Brand web palette
Colors Council of Europe uses across its website — the broader brand system around the logo.
About Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organization headquartered in Strasbourg, France. It was founded on 5 May 1949 with the aim of promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across Europe. The organization has 47 member states, including all EU member states, except Belarus. The Council of Europe focuses on various areas, including protecting the rights of individuals and minorities, promoting cultural diversity, combatting discrimination, and fighting against corruption and organized crime. It develops conventions, treaties, and agreements to standardize legislation and harmonize policies among member states. The European Convention on Human Rights, adopted in 1950, is one of its most significant achievements, providing individuals with the right to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. The Council of Europe's headquarters are located in the Palais de l'Europe in Strasbourg, France. The Palais de l'Europe is an iconic building and serves as both an administrative complex and a symbol of European unity. On a global scale, the Council of Europe works closely with other international organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union to promote its values and objectives. It collaborates with various non-governmental organizations and civil society to implement its programs and initiatives. The Council of Europe does not have any subsidiaries, joint ventures, or partnerships. However, it collaborates with other institutions, such as the European Court of Human Rights, to ensure the effective implementation of its work. In terms of market position, the Council of Europe is widely recognized as the leading organization in Europe for promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. It is considered the guardian of the European Convention on Human Rights and its court's decisions have a significant impact on legislation and policy across its member states. The Council of Europe has not released any significant changes in its st
Questions about the Council of Europe logo
Did the Council of Europe design the European flag?
Yes. The Council of Europe adopted the circle-of-stars emblem in 1955 as its own symbol. The European Communities (later the EU) adopted the same design in 1985, so the flag is shared by both organisations but originated with the Council of Europe.
Why are there always twelve stars, even though the Council has 46 member states?
The number twelve is fixed by design convention and represents perfection, completeness, and unity — not the membership count. The Council of Europe's statutes specify that the emblem's twelve stars must not change regardless of enlargement.
What color is the Council of Europe logo?
The dominant color of the Council of Europe logo is Nuit Blanche (hex #1F458A). The closest Pantone match is 6098 C.
How many colors does the Council of Europe logo have?
The Council of Europe logo uses 2 primary colors: #1F458A, #FFFFFF.
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The Council of Europe logo is a trademark of its owner, shown here for identification and design research. Color data is measured from the public mark by LogoLabs; analysis is editorial commentary. No affiliation or endorsement is implied.