Is there an official EU anthem?

Yes, perhaps not exactly an anthem, but since 1986 the EU has used the Hymn to Europe or the ‘Ode to Joy’ from the last movement of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony as a musical symbol of the EU. It was originally the Council of Europe that began to use this piece of music in 1972. Today, both the Council of Europe and the EU use the Hymn to Europe , even though they are two different organisations.

The EU anthem does not replace the national anthems of the EU countries.

The Hymn to Europe can be heard in its full version or as an extract on the website: