As a human being I am personally saddened, as I have a great deal of respect for the large number of British colleagues I have worked with over the years. That is why I personally invested countless hours, days and nights, in negotiating a fair deal for the United Kingdom.

I don't think in national categories. For me it [policy] is about concepts and substance.

Decisions can only be reached in Europe if France and Germany agree.

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

There is a distorted perception of what goes on in Brussels. No one reports on the Commission taking a hundred initiatives from its predecessor off the table in order to shift competencies back to member state governments.

We must go back to teach Europeans to love Europe.

The use of EU summits to frame political victories or defeats is an annoying habit.