Friday October 5,2012
By Macer Hall


he EU flag flown at the Business Ministry last year

BRUSSELS bureaucrats have surrendered in their bid to force Britain to fly the European flag in Whitehall, it emerged last night.

Proposals from the European Commission would have compelled any Government department distributing EU development funds to fly the blue-and-gold banner from a flagpole outside its headquarters.

But after months of wrangling, the proposals have been watered down.

Whitehall departments will now remain within the rules so long as the EU’s emblem is displayed somewhere on the premises.

One Whitehall insider joked: “The logo will go in the basement.”

Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles led the challenge to the rules.

He said yesterday: “This is a victory for common sense.

“Forcing institutions to fly the flag all round will not help to balance the EU budget.

“I am glad that the commission has taken a more pragmatic view on this whole issue.”

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/350172/Brussels-is-defeated-over-flying-Euro-flag