Romano Prodi Quotes

I don't want to pass a punitive law, or use politics as a vendetta.

Foreign policy can mean several things, not only foreign policy in the narrow sense. It can cover foreign policy, relations with the developing world, and enlargement as well.

Italy is divided between us and them, rich and poor, north and south, young and old, employed and unemployed.

Berlusconi is no longer fit to lead our country.

But Italy can only have any real influence on world affairs if it carries weight in Europe.

The EU must take on new responsibilities. And these new responsibilities call for intensifying the integration process.

European government is a clear expression I still use, you need time, but step by step, as in the Austrian case, the European Commission takes a political decision and behaves like a growing government.

No one wants to lose their job, or cede the power they've acquired.

The problem of Italy is not really a question of age. Japan has an older population, and it is now in full economic recovery. The problem is that Italy is old in the structure of the society.

In the darkest days of European history, America stood close by us and today we stand close by America. Nothing will ever be the same.

Our continents unification is at hand and we must stand to account.

Think what a revolution it will be if we manage to get everyone to pay their taxes.

The Italian economy is certainly the weakest of the big European countries.

Democracies must have equilibrium... and the entanglement of politics and information must be minimized.

We must now face the difficult task of moving towards a single economy, a single political entity .. For the first time since the fall of the Roman Empire we have the opportunity to unite Europe.

So when you are faced with a decision on the euro, it is not surprising that many people are confused. They still try to squeeze the euro debate into the old language. But deep down it is a matter of deciding where one's future lies. It is a matter of political will and courage.

I am sure the euro will oblige us to introduce a new set of economic policy instruments. It is politically impossible to propose that now. But some day there will be a crisis and new instruments will be created.

We have to give ourselves a constitution which marks the birth of Europe as a political entity.

Moreover, resolving the mother of all problems - the Israeli-Palestinian question - requires cooperation between Europe and the U.S.

If you don't want to call it a European army, don't call it a European army. You can call it 'Margaret', you can call it 'Mary-Anne', you can find any name, but it is a joint effort for peace-keeping missions - the first time you have a joint, not bilateral, effort at European level.

Are we all clear that we want to build something that can aspire to be a world power? In other words, not just a trading bloc but a political entity. Do we realise that our nation states, taken individually, would find it far more difficult to assert their existence and their identity on the world stage.

It is becoming more widely acknowledged that it is better to have a good constitution than not having a perfect one.

We are involved in a constitution-building process of historic importance. The Convention should mark a new stage in European integration.

Are we all clear that we want to build something that can aspire to be a world power - not just a trading bloc, but a political entity?

I am not a newcomer, you know, so I want to be judged for what I did when I was prime minister last time in Italy and president of the European Commission for more than five years.