The common design was a sun composed of 24 interwoven wires, one for each CEPT member, designed by Louis Le Brocquy (1916–2012) of Ireland. Austria, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, and the Vatican did not issue stamps this year. Most stamps were issued on 4 May, close to Europa Day (9 May). Since this year, each country is allowed to issue one stamp within the set with their own design. Only Greece used that new rule issuing one stamp out of three depicting an owl, the antique symbol of wisdom.
