Prohibiting a visible religious sign, which isn't a manifestation of militancy, would look like a fight against religions.

I was a Member of the European Parliament for a period of time and I saw a lot of European laws and treaties.

Let them be reassured, it has never been one of our intentions to ban religion in society, but solely to protect the national education system from any conspicuous display of religious affiliation.

When I see the cultural diversity that exists today, I feel that we must defend it, and we need Europe, because otherwise we are going to live in a society with a single model, the Anglo-American model.

It's true that the question of Iraq divided Europe.

There have been major disagreements within the European Union.

I think that we must come together progressively, with the British, the Germans, the Spanish, the Italians and with the new members of the European Union, we must make an effort to forge closer links.