My aspiration is not to be loved. It is that my government be respected and credible.

I have the most profound respect for the Department of Justice and the FTC. We in Europe are a younger and I would say junior institution to the historical antitrust experience of the US.

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

As to the question of elected or not elected, each member of the European Commission has been appointed jointly by the governments of the 15 member states, and undergone individual scrutiny and a vote of confidence from the European Parliament.

A lot of the American press at the time was saying 'just watch what happens when Bertelsmann tries to buy EMI, that will be a moment of truth that will show the Commission's true colors.' Well, that deal never happened either.

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

There was in Italy a hidden demand for a boring government which would try to tell the truth in non-political jargon.