We have [unfriendly policies] here in Europe, too. We have them here in Germany, too. And to take up where the president left off, digitization is in a way a disruptive force, a disruptive technological force that brings about deep-seated change, transformation of a society.

I fortunately know very many people, and there are many, many more that I don't know and many politicians who stand up for the same values of democracy of liberal societies, of open societies of respect for the dignity of man.

I feel sorry sometimes for these sportsmen and women who put in just as much effort as the footballers. For example, athletes train at least as hard as footballers but have to be happy if they can earn enough to finance a decent education.

Thank [Barack Obama] for the friendship you've always demonstrated.

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

Global climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity in the twenty-first century.

I believe that we will move forward a little tomorrow but I have my doubts that we will achieve a result.