I would not be opposed to devising a new system of pensions, in which one part was based on collective provision, but which also gave incentives for people to take out an additional, personal plan.

The problem of how we finance the welfare state should not obscure a separate issue: if each person thinks he has an inalienable right to welfare, no matter what happens to the world, that's not equity, it's just creating a society where you can't ask anything of people.

The European model is, first, a social and economic system founded on the role of the market, for no computer in the world can process information better than the market.

Even in Britain, the trade unions tell me that employment contracts have less protection than in the past.

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

...within ten years 80% of our economic legislation, perhaps even fiscal and social as well' would come from the EU.

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