As far as my relationship with President Putin is concerned, it's fine.

Indeed, the creators of the euro envisioned it as an instrument to promote political union.

We really believe our national interests are identical with European interests.

Whatever the details of union may be, there's no doubt we need more policy coordination in Europe.

Our future begins on January 1 1999. The euro is Europe's key to the 21st century. The era of solo national fiscal and economic policy is over.

One effect could be that the huge atomic arsenal created in the cold war could be reduced significantly.

Germany is very free-trade oriented.