At the Milan European Council of June 1985, the Heads of State or Government choose the same anthem for the European Community as that adopted in 1972 by the Council of Europe. The melody is taken from the final movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, composed in 1823, which sets to music the ‘Ode to Joy’, a poem written in 1785 by Friedrich von Schiller. However, because of translation problems, Schiller’s words do not form part of the European anthem. The music is arranged by Herbert von Karajan.

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Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l'Europe, Château de Sanem, L-4992 Sanem (Luxembourg). www.cvce.lu.
Dernier mouvement de la Neuvième symphonie (Ode à la joie) / van Beethoven, Ludwig (compositeur); von Karajan, Herbert (arrangeur); Musique Militaire Grand-Ducale (interprète).- Sanem: CVCE [Prod.], 23-24.11.1998. CVCE, Sanem. - SON (00:02:15, Montage, Son original).

Photo: Union européenne. Commission européenne. Couleur.

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