I assumed office to bring the EU to a point from which there is no going back. Instead, I am having to unwind the EU to a certain extent.

Yesterday's shining heroes of Brexit have become the sorrowful heroes of today.

After 30 years in Brussels, I can tell you: The relationship between the Commission and the Parliament has probably never been as good as it is now.

Europe is a democracy and differences of opinion are part of it.

In politics, there are different categories of friendship. My friendship with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, for example .

I was never presented with the details as far as the collective bargaining system is Greece. I am in favor of a normal system without giving the labour minister the right to extend the results to extend the result of the collective bargaining to the whole of the real economy. The government has to make sure that the results will not harm the situation of small and medium enterprises.

I notice with a certain sense of regret that far too many Europeans are returning to a regional and national mindset.