EU, NATO chiefs ‘deeply shocked’ by attacks in Paris

By: 9 years ago

NATO head Jens Stoltenberg and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. AP Photos

BRUSSELS, Belgium—European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and NATO head Jens Stoltenberg both said they were “deeply shocked” by the attacks in Paris Friday that have left at least 120 people dead.

European Council President Donald Tusk said he will ensure the G20 summit in Turkey over the weekend will respond to the threat of terrorism as both he and Juncker prepared to represent the European Union at the event.

On his Twitter account, Juncker said: “I am deeply shocked by the events in Paris. We stand in full solidarity with the people of France.”

In a later message to French President Francois Hollande, Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg, said he was “revolted to see that France is at this same moment hit by the most odious terrorism.”

Writing in French, he added: “I think about the victims, the wounded, the rescue (services). I trust the authorities and the French people to overcome this new ordeal together.”

Other members of the European Commission, the executive arm of the 28-nation European Union in Brussels, have also reacted to the attacks.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, also writing in French, tweeted that she “is in the process of following with pain and dread the events in Paris.”

Mogherini, the multi-lingual former Italian foreign minister, added: “Europe is with France and the French people.”

Echoing the commission was Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, who said: “I am deeply shocked by the horrific terrorist attacks across Paris tonight.

“My thoughts are with the families of the victims, with all those affected, and with the people of France. We stand strong and united in the fight against terrorism. Terrorism will never defeat democracy.”

Tusk wrote to Hollande saying France will not be alone in its fight against terrorism as the attacks were “an outrage” against not just France but all of Europe.

“We will demand that world leaders meeting in the G20 in Antalya respond to the threat of extremist terrorism,” the former Polish prime minister said.

“We will ensure that everything that can be done at European level to make France safe is being done,” he said. “And we will make sure that Europe’s counter-terror strategy is fit for purpose to face the challenges of the months ahead.”