My objective is that before the end of the millennium Europe should have a true federation. The Commission should become a political executive which can define essential common interests... responsible before the European Parliament and before the nation-states represented how you will, by the European Council or by a second chamber of national parliaments.

Therefore one should speak at the same time of national citizenship and wider European citizenship.

This weakening is worsened by the widening distance between the governed and their governments.

We will have to create an avant-garde.... We could have a Union for the enlarged Europe, and a Federation for the avant-garde.

My presidential victory, if it had happened, would have been artificial in relation to the Socialist party. It may be that on my deathbed, I will come to regret my decision, but for the moment, I live at peace with it.

The unions may continue to decline, but if they do, it'll be their fault.

The driving force behind the liberal counter-offensive in Europe has been a reaction against irresponsibility.