Many in Germany are saying that Macron should be helped. That's also how I see it. But Germany cannot solve France's problems. The French president and his government will have to seriously knuckle down in order to pull France out of its slump.

The European family may well be anything but perfect.

You can consider this carved in stone: I rule out becoming Herman Van Rompuy's successor.

I haven't yet given everything: I am still full of energy. But I wanted to make it clear that I don't have to make unwarranted concessions to national governments or to parliament. I want to avoid the impression that I am doing things just to ensure that I am re-elected. That's not the case. I have had my career.

There can be no doubt that, with the United Kingdom, we will lose a very market-oriented voice.

I completely agree with Helmut Kohl. I am not an advocate of the "United States of Europe," nor am I an integration fanatic.

We can't completely rely on the aberrations of history to explain today's European necessities. Future-related issues are no less pressing.