This is certainly not the first case in which a merger approved in one place hasn't gone through in the other. There was a case last year where the merger between two EU companies was approved here and blocked in the U.S.

I know that speaking with parties, which I do, but not very often, is seen by many as a contamination.

If the euro becomes a factor promoting Europe's drifting apart, then the foundation of the European project is destroyed.

In the area of macroeconomic policies, I think we'll see more centralization, like in the budgetary sphere.

Growth in any individual European country has to be the result of policies for growth pursued in that country consistent with budgetary discipline.

If governments let themselves be fully bound by the decisions of their parliaments without protecting their own freedom to act, a breakup of Europe would be a more probable outcome than deeper integration.

It is very unusual for a country to ask guys who are not politicians to come and run the country.