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.

Any debate among politicians about monetary policy is counterproductive.

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

As far as missile defense is concerned, a very thorough consultation process is underway.

They have it wrong in asking if Schroeder favors Britain over France, or France over Britain. Schroeder favors Germany. That is what we all have to understand.

Germany is very free-trade oriented.

I am not the German Tony Blair. Nor am I the German Bill Clinton. I am Gerhard Schroeder, chancellor of Germany, responsible for Germany. I don't want to be a copy of anyone.