Hollande urges Europe to tighten security after attacks

French President Francois Hollande urged Europe to beef up security as he arrived in Portugal on Tuesday for talks on the European Union’s future.

“It is up to Europeans to ensure their security,” Hollande said, describing it as “the number one priority.”

“(…) The terrorists want to divide us, to set us against each other.”

Hollande was to hold talks with counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. He heads to Dublin on Thursday.

Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will meet in August to discuss the fallout from Brexit and means of strengthening the bloc.

European leaders are due to meet in the Slovak capital Bratislava on September 16.

Hollande had initially scheduled to go to Vienna, Prague and Bratislava this week, but those trips have been put off until the end of the summer break following the July 14 terror attack in Nice.

Hollande, according to French sources, will seek a consensus on beefing up security, attracting more investments on the continent and creating more jobs.

“We have to now come up with concrete propositions,” a French diplomat said. “We have to bring everyone together.”