Following the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, statments by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Donald TUSK, President of the Council and Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC during the plenary session in Strasbourg

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

statement

Strasbourg

JUNCKER, Jean-Claude (LU)

TUSK, Donald (PL)

Fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris: statements by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Donald TUSK, President of the Council and Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC

Atmosphere ahead the debate, Antonio Tajani, EP President arrival.

SOUNDBITE (French), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Notre Dame was a first cathedral of my life, as a former inhabitant of the city of Paris, as an Italian, as a European. I think along with all of us I can say that we are wounded to the core by what occurred yesterday in Paris. And we stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of France, we stand alongside France because it is going to take a long time for this wound to heal and we must all do what we can. One member suggested to me today that we collect funds we will put a box outside the plenary today. We could donate what we earned today as a sign of solidarity. We have to rebuild the cathedral and I think that that would be a positive message from the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (French), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, I would like also on behalf of the European Parliament to thank all of the French firefighters who fought the blaze yesterday evening. The fire which engulfed the cathedral. And I am therefore counting on each and every one of you. And I hope that this message from the European Parliament as well as from the Commission and the Council, will do France some good.

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, From this place I would like to say words of comfort and solidarity with the whole French nation in the face of the Paris tragedy I say these words not on the president of the European Council but also as a citizen of Gdansk, 90 percent destroyed and burned and later rebuilt. You will also rebuild your cathedral. From Strasbourg the French capital of the European Union I convey all the 28 member states to take part in this task. I know that France could do it alone, but at stake here is something more than just material help. The burning of the Notre Dame Cathedral has again made us aware that we are bound by something more important and more profound than treaties.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Yesterday was a terrible day for all of those who loved France and who loved Paris. In all of our lives Paris is not and cannot be a neutral place. It is a place that we always like to fall in love again. This city has been struck by a tragedy which is not just architectural in nature, but concerns the life of all French people, being destroyed and engulfed in flames. It's an external symbol of force because there are many who visit Notre Dame, and have done over the ages. And this strikes at the very heart. A very important part of France has been severely hit, and we are widowed to a degree, all of us. And I would say to our French friends that we have a great deal of sympathy and indeed the whole Commission has expressed its sympathy and will offer all the help that France would require. Europe has been hurt. France has been hurt. Paris has been hurt all of us have been hurt and we show solidarity with those people.