What's very important is that we build a space that matters in the world, one that operates according to democratic rules, and that small and large countries enjoy a good relationship.

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.

The Europe we are in the process of building is the Europe of the 21st century; it's not the Europe of the 20th century.

I tell fundamentalists that there is no question of them attacking our Republic's foundations.

I believe that transatlantic relations are very important and that President Bush's visit to Brussels, in a few days, will have a major impact on that.

It's a different outlook, and one that I understand. When you are a former member of the Warsaw Pact, when you have lived behind the Berlin Wall, when you have experienced the communist systems that existed in these countries, for them, the West represents hope.

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