If you want to be constructive in politics, the less you look back, the better. If you do look back, then it can only be to learn for yourself through the events that have taken place.

The times when we could fully count on others are over to a certain extent.

There's a rumour going around that states cannot go bankrupt. This rumour is not true.

There's another point that I wanted to mention here, particularly the engagement and commitment to Africa. For us Europeans, Africa as a neighboring continent is of prime importance. The development of African countries is in our very own vested interest.

In Europe it is particularly important that we build good relations to everyone who holds political responsibility because Europe can only be build together.

Just look at Poland, a sort of European perspective this has. So we have an interest in seeing this relationship be a good one. We have a lot of historical ties of course, a history that we share. But this mustn't keep us from wherever we feel there are very grave differences of opinion to raise them with them.

Budget consolidation and economic growth are two sides of the same coin.