Alphen, Netherlands. 7
January. The news from Paris about the
appalling Islamist terrorist attack on the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie
Hebdo is truly shocking. There is no
point in speculation at present but every reason to send my thoughts and wishes
to those who lost their lives this morning and to their families and loved ones.
All I can say is that I have never felt as
European as I do at this moment and that whatever our differences as Europeans this attack reaffirms my absolute belief in the values, beliefs and freedom which we
must all uphold as Europeans.
On 12 September, 2001 Le Monde ran the headline “Nous sommes
tous americains maintenant”. Let me say
for the record as an English, Briton and European, nous sommes tous français
maintenant!
Vive la France! Vive la
liberté! Vive la fraternité! Vive l’Europe!