We had to move forward after the war and see the realities.

We already have a federation. The 11, soon to be 12, member States adopting the euro have already given up part of their sovereignty, monetary sovereignty, and formed a monetary union, and that is the first step towards a federation.

There are a lot of active AfD members in Germany and people in party leadership positions who speak like Nazis and think like Nazis. AfD parliamentary floor leader Alexander Gauland wants to "take back our country and our people." Umm, hello? Haven't we heard that before? I had hoped and thought that our society had advanced beyond that. But we have to realize: They're back.

From my own experience in dealing with the Nazi-grandpas, who have now clearly made a return, I would recommend a bit of fundamental imperturbability.

An enlarged Union based on Nice is not in the interest of any Member State ... This is not a threat. This is a messenger delivering news.

India has been contributing very much to the reconstruction of Afghanistan; we are strongly engaged there.

The future of the German automobile industry is very much at stake. Will we help shape the upheaval that goes along with the shift to electric cars or will we suffer from it? We are the country of automobiles. If we aren't able to remain out front technologically, it will be painful. That is one of the decisive questions when it comes to jobs, income and prosperity - and not just for a few of the wealthy or super-rich, but for a huge number of people.