Statement by the President of the European Economic and Social Committee on the terrorist attacks committed in Catalonia on 17 and 18 August 2017

On behalf of the European Economic and Social Committee and all my colleagues, I wish to express our sorrow and indignation at the cowardly and barbaric attacks carried out in Barcelona and the Catalonia Region. Once again, a handful of odious individuals serving the cause of hatred and annihilation have sown the seeds of suffering and death, targeting European civil society without the slightest scruple.

These cowards indiscriminately set their sights on peace-loving, innocent people. Drowning in jealousy of our society and its values of democracy, tolerance and dialogue, they opt instead for an orgy of violence, brutality, tyranny, obscurantism and hatred. I said it on the evening of the first attack, and I say it again: they will never have the better of us. Never.

My thoughts go first of all to the victims of these despicable assassins, to their closest friends and families, to the Calatan people and to those visiting their region, and to the regional and national authorities and emergency services. I wish to assure them that they have the total support of all civil society organisations across the European Union.

 

Georges Dassis

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Déclaration du président du Comité économique et social européen sur les attentats terroristes commis en Catalogne les 17 et 18 août 2017
Declaración del presidente del Comité Económico y Social Europeo sobre los atentados terroristas perpetrados en Cataluña los días 17 y 18 de agosto de 2017
Statement by the President of the European Economic and Social Committee on the terrorist attacks committed in Catalonia on 17 and 18 August 2017