We are your friends and your neighbours. We are your colleagues and your local traders.

We are even, in some case, your family or your partner.

As citizens of members-states of the EU and hence as EU citizens, we have had the chance and the honour to live in the UK for months, years, sometimes decades. We have been proud and willing residents of this country, working here, paying our taxes, substantially contributing to the growth.

The decision has been made that we would not be allowed to take part to the referendum about the UK membership in the EU. We respect this decision.

Yet, we are appalled at the risk of a Brexit and its potential disastrous effects for this country that we love. We are profoundly distressed by the lies, approximations and falsehoods of the arguments used by the pro-Brexit campaigns.

We felt that we had to step up and speak out.

Please, do not give in to the obscure yet tempting reflex of nationalism. Europe has tried it too many times.

Do not yield to the lure of a UK stronger on its own in a world ever more competitive and unsafe.

The EU is certainly imperfect and it has its issues like any family. Yet, it keeps all of us united and stronger.

We all belong to this family and we belong together. On the 23rd June 2016, vote responsibly and choose to stay with us.

From Thibault Boutherin a member of one of the SY2E – Remain in the EU groups. Thibault set up this petition on change.org: The EU & the UK to give voice to his wish for the UK Remaining in the EU.