European leaders vowed today to contribute to rebuilding the devastated Paris's Notre Dame cathedral, considering the fire that broke out into it "a blow to all Europe".
Reuters quoted European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker telling the European Parliament in Strasbourg that "Europe has been wounded. France has been wounded", promising EU "solidarity".
Several speakers in a debate on last week's Brexit summit used the fire at the mediaeval landmark to underscore arguments that the Union represents a deep-rooted common European society.
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Notre Dame cathedral[/caption]
We are all a little bereaved," said Juncker. "Yesterday was a terrible.. Paris is not a neutral place. It is a place that we love falling in love with again. Seeing this city in the grip of a tragedy, which is not only architectural but touches the life of the French people, being destroyed by flames is heartbreaking."
"You will also rebuild your cathedral. From Strasbourg, the French capital of the European Union, I call on all the 28 member states to take part in this task.
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Notre Dame cathedral from inside[/caption]
"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."
Parliament President Antonio Tajani called on the 751 members to donate their day's salary. Speaking in French, he said: "As a former resident of Paris, as an Italian, as a European, my heart is wounded, as are all of our hearts, by what happened yesterday in Paris."
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