where she served until 2005 . That year , she went against her duty to remain politically neutral and strongly committed herself to the ‘ Yes ’ side in the referendum , because ‘ a Europe built patiently for decades can crumble tomorrow . What some have tirelessly built , others can destroy .’
The 2005 referendum would be her last public political commitment .
Simone Veil said on numerous occasions that , ‘ The fact that we have built Europe has reconciled me with the 20th century .’
At the dawn of the 21st century , she was determined to warn people about the fragility of this common good . She believed that it was essential to remind younger generations , who had not experienced war , that this ‘ miracle of peace ’, which seemed natural to them , was the fruit of the relentless determination of men and women who had wished to leave them a Europe which was no longer a place of destruction . She asked them to take good care of it .
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