Bratislava, September 16 (TASR) - 'Don't trade away Europe' was the message sent out by Greenpeace activists to the leaders of EU-member states who converged on Bratislava for the EU summit on Friday.

Gathering by the Danube River, activists from various countries unveiled their 'Don't trade away Europe' banner while lining up so that the letters on their T-shirts formed the words 'solidarity' and 'peace'.

Along with 177 other organisations and trade associations, Greenpeace called on the EU leaders before the summit to heed people's concerns. "Our Governments are in Bratislava to save European cooperation, but they constantly abandon the fundamental values with which the Union was buttressed. Peace, human rights and solidarity are giving way to fear, discrimination and stringency," said Greenpeace regional political coordinator Julia Sokolovicova.

According to Sokolovicova, people want greater equality and social as well as environmental protection. "They reject corporate privileges and the unfair TTIP and CETA trade deals. In order to save Europe, our leaders must stop playing into the hands of extremists and start creating regulations that serve everyone," she added.