For German Social Democracy, Europe is vital to the national interest.

I believe it is wrong to give Moscow a rebate on Ukraine sanctions because of Syria.

The share of wealth held by the minority is much greater than the share held by the majority. We have to draw our own conclusions from that and it has to change.

I'm not a populist. But I try to present complicated issues in such a way that people know where I stand.

The problem with us EU politicians is that we approach everything with cool rationality, and then wonder why we don't win people over emotionally.

We need economic growth in Europe and we need to find a solution for the excessive interest rates that are making it difficult for many countries to get their own debt under control.

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