Statement by the President of the European Economic and Social Committee on the terrorist attacks committed in Paris on 13 November 2015

Brussels, 14 November 2015

 

In the name of all my colleagues, members of the European Economic and Social Committee, who represent before the European Institutions all the major employer, trade union and citizen-based organisations in the European Union, I would like to express our indignation and outrage on the cowardly and barbaric attacks which have been committed in Paris this night.

Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends, the French people and their institutions with whom we express our complete solidarity.

These stupid, vile and despicable murderers obsessed with hatred, attack the people, democracy and fundamental values of the French Republic.  In this way, they attack the people, our democracy and fundamental values in Europe because they are one in the same.  They will not win over. They will not weaken us.  They will not achieve any of their goals: our unity around the values of European democracy, which owe moreover a great deal to the French Republic, will be even more reinforced.

One thing is clear: the whole of organized civil society in Europe, and by this we mean, the whole of the employer, trade union and citizen-based organisations in the European Union, is united against them, and is with the French people.

 

Georges Dassis

President
European Economic and Social Committee