With hindsight, it is always easy to blame everyone else.

In the highest government office, you have to be ready to bow out at any time, otherwise you are not a free individual anymore.

In the end, the British didn't vote to leave because of the euro. They're not even members of the currency union. Even the refugee crisis hardly affected the country.

I would describe that [friendship with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras] as a utilitarian friendship. At the time, his country was facing the prospect of leaving the euro zone and many Greeks felt abandoned by Europe. In such a situation, it seemed appropriate to me to present myself as a friend to Greece. It had to do with the country's dignity.

I like Macron a lot and I very much welcome him - particularly the fact that he made Europe one of the main topics of the election debate.

You can't have euro bonds without more interconnection among the national budget policies.

But it is the best thing that we have for bringing the countries of Europe around the same table and for forging compromises so that people here can live in peace, freedom and prosperity. In a world which is growing closer together all the time, we can only survive and influence the rules if we join forces. We will miss the presence of the United Kingdom at this table.