BRUSSELS, Feb. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- The European Union (EU) on Saturday condemned the arson attacks on the Danish, Swedish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus and other forms of anti-Europe violence.

    "Such acts can by no means be legitimized and are utterly unacceptable," said Austria, which holds the rotating EU presidency, in a statement.

    "The presidency of the European Union demands that all authorities concerned take necessary measures to ensure the safety of European citizens and property," the statement said.

    The EU presidency also "urgently" called on all concerned to show restraint and to refrain from and prevent further violence.

    The European Commission (EC) office in Gaza was also under attack on Saturday. Demonstrators entered the premises of the office and damaged property.

    No European casualties were reported in either the attacks in Damascus or in Gaza as the buildings had been evacuated by the time of the attacks.

    "The commission expects the Palestinian authorities to ensure that European premises are properly protected," said the EC, the executive body of the European Union (EU), in a statement on Saturday.

    "The commission deeply regrets that Europeans who are working to bring a better life to Palestinians should be the subject of such attacks."

    According the EC, the EU is the biggest donor to the Palestinians. The EC and EU member states gave 500 million euros (605 million U.S. dollars) last year.

    Muslims have been protesting against the publication by a Danish newspaper of 12 cartoons depicting their Prophet Mohammad in September. Anti-Europe violence has escalated recently as several European newspapers reprinted the cartoons.

    In the Muslim culture, the prophet and Allah shall not be depicted. Enditem