Brussels, 14/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - The coach accident in Switzerland has shaken the European Union, which stands beside Belgium in its grief at the terrible death toll of 28, most of whom were school pupils returning from a skiing trip. European leaders have expressed their condolences to the families of the victims.
Council President and former prime minister of Belgium Herman Van Rompuy shared his deepest thoughts with the families of the victims, adult and children. “On behalf of the European Union and for myself, I send them my sincerest condolences”, he said in a message.
The European Parliament (EP) opened its plenary voting session with a minute's silence. EP President Martin Schulz said, he like his parliamentary colleagues, was stunned, especially as most of the victims were children. He has contacted the King of the Belgians and Belgian Prime Minister Elio du Rupo. Di Rupo has declared a national day of mourning.
Liberal leader in the EP Guy Verhofstadt, himself a former prime minister of the country, said: “This terrible event is so tragic that it has sent the entire country into collective mourning. I wish to bear witness to the profound solidarity of our neighbours and European partners. Messages of support have been flowing to Belgium from all corners of the European Union.”
EPP Group leader Joseph Daul (France) hoped that light would be shed on the full circumstances of the accident and wished the injured a speedy recovery from their injuries. The Belgian delegation in the ALDE Group - Ivo Belet, Anne Delvaux, Jean-Luc Dehaene, Matthieu Grosch and Marianne Thyssen - joined to send a message of condolence.
The European Commission also sent its deepest sympathies to the Belgian people. Commission President José Manuel Barroso sent the prime minister his “sincere condolences and his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims”. “The fact that most of the victims are children makes this tragic event altogether more dramatic.” Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas used the social network Twitter to express his deep sadness. (MD/transl.rt)