[Helmut] Kohl said Europe must return to being a community committed to stability and the rule of law.

In all of my speeches I talk about why a strong Europe is necessary in order for Germany to be strong over the long term. I think that I have sufficiently shown over the past years that I have a clear notion of how we can make Europe stronger, more democratic and more inclusive. There is really no competition there with Sigmar Gabriel.

My mother's brother was killed while clearing mines in 1945. Those are things that mark your childhood and they help explain why we are so devoted to European unity.

There are surely people in London who would love to play us off against each other. That would be disastrous for the EU.

In political life, it is extremely difficult to remain loyal to a friendship when constellations of power or interests are in the way.

You have to let the people vote when it comes to a new constitution.

I try to speak in a manner that allows people to tell me apart from my political adversaries. And I speak in a manner that the people can understand. For me, that isn't populism.