System of economic preference and protection within Europe from 1806 to 1813 created by the French emperor Napoleon in order to exclude British trade. Apart from its function as economic warfare, the system also reinforced the French economy at the expense of other European states. It failed owing to British naval superiority.
The flag's unusual 3:4 proportions are laid down by law. Green represents the forests. Blue symbolizes the Atlantic Ocean. Effective date: 9 August 1960.