From the very beginning Europe has been not only a success story but also a story of success achieved by learning.

I put my money on Brexit. The EU Financial Stability Commissioner, Jonathan Hill from Britain, still owes me a pound.

My friendship with Martin [Schulz], by contrast, is completely different in that it goes far beyond politics.

I am chilled by the realization of how similar circumstances in Europe in 2013 are to those of 100 years ago.

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

Trump is a partner for us who cannot be easily categorized. Putting it in the noblest way possible, his understanding of politics is a little different from ours here in Europe. The way he acts forces us Europeans to take on a new responsibility. We are not standing with our backs up against the wall, but, to put it as pithily as the German chancellor has: We can no longer rely on the U.S. the way we could in the past.

It is always said that Europe is a project of the elite. That's incorrect.