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

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.

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

I have always considered it to be a minor miracle that after the war, people in Europe's border regions were able to forget everything and, in accordance with the slogan "Never Again War," develop a program that still works today.

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.

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