Sir, – Simon O’Connor wonders why the EU flag flies outside the European Commission main building here in Brussels instead of national flags. The simple answer is that the Commission is the executive branch and represents the interests of the EU as a whole, similar to the role of the White House in the US.
It is the European Council which represents the member states, similar to the US Senate. It is outside its building across the road that Mr O’Connor will find the national flags. The European Parliament then represents the citizens directly, similar to the US House of Representatives.
Understanding these three main institutions is key to understanding how the EU works. – Yours, etc,