During our religious instruction in school, we always asked: How can one prove the existence of God? And I have learned that the Catholic Church, which is never at a loss for an answer when it comes to existential questions, responds as follows: This question simply does not arise.

I'm always quite amazed that people in Europe become unnerved when two institutions or two people have different views.

It's important to recognize that we in Europe will either succeed together or fail together.

I'm ready to be insulted as being insufficiently democratic, but I want to be serious ... I am for secret, dark debates.

How will the exit affect thousands of British pensioners living in Portugal or Spain who will lose their access to the welfare and health systems? Fifty-three free-trade agreements, which were negotiated by the EU on behalf of all Member States, are also hanging in the balance for the UK.

For my generation, the monetary union has always been about forging peace.

One can't allow blind loyalty to a friendship to lead one away from acting in the public interest. If Martin [Schulz] were to propose something that was totally absurd, our friendship would not prevent me from doing the opposite.