Few politicians are good at taking the high ground and throwing themselves off it.

I'm optimistic that we are actually seeing the opportunity of a generation being created in this.

Europe has to address people's needs directly and reflect their priorities, not our own preoccupations.

What we have to do is reinvent the idea of Europe.

In the space of a decade, China and India have emerged as dramatic, dynamic competitors.

For too long, decisions have been taken behind closed doors - tablets of stone have simply been past down to people without bothering to involve people, listen to their views or give them information about what we are doing and why.

I think Europe is going in the right direction and we shouldn't be set back.