For many people, politics in Brussels and Strasbourg might as well be happening on another planet.

We must now, in the 21st century, protect democracy, one which rests on fundamental rights for all, regardless of skin color, gender, race or religion. Nothing less than that is at stake.

In the days before the vote, I bet that the British would stay in the EU.

If we no longer judge the content of people's actions, but merely their form, then we are entering dangerous times indeed.

In 2003, Helmut Schmidt said: Predatory capitalism exists, we have to civilize it and we can do that via Europe. He was right. We haven't tried hard enough.

We need a common European tax policy that closes these tax loopholes. We need a common European social policy that prevents social dumping. We need an effective securing of our external borders and a smart way of fighting terrorism. Acting as a state within a national framework is no longer enough. The German chancellor has completely failed to convey that throughout her years in power. We need a re-start for Europe.

I would never attack somebody only because they belong to a different party.