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

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

Reference to the territory and total disregard for the nationality of the companies is of course the best guarantee that competition assessment remain just that and doesn't get affected by trade or other considerations.

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

Europe has to avoid old prejudices and new ones. That means north versus south, rich versus poor.

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.

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