“If you say in advance there is going to be a main candidate and then that doesn't count later, then that's going to be a highly problematic occurrence in a democracy.” IfsDemocracyCandidates Author:Martin Schulz
“I firmly believe that the inequity [in society] is enormous. The people have the feeling that you are allowed to do anything if you are rich. But if you're poor, you have to pay. We [Europeans] have to counter this.” PeopleIfsBelieveFeelingsPoorPayRichEnormous Author:Martin Schulz
“But if you constantly insist only on your own interpretation, it isn't long before it seems patronizing.” IfsLongSeemsInterpretationPatronizing Author:Martin Schulz
“Solidarity is the fundamental idea of European cooperation. If a country feels itself to be militarily threatened and calls for soldiers, weapons and sanctions, then that's what it gets. When governments say they need money from the structural funds to stabilize their economy, that's what they get. But you can't cherry pick solidarity.” IfsNeedsFeelsIdeasCountryGovernmentEconomyWeaponsPicksFundamentalsSoldierFundCooperationSolidarityThreatenedSanctionsCherriesNeed Money Author:Martin Schulz
“We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because solidarity is a basic principle that cannot be had on an à la carte basis. If we have rules that nobody adheres to, then the community will break apart.” IfsGovernmentCommunitySituationPrinciplesBreakPolicyBasesBoundsCommittedPursueDramaticSolidarityJointsBasic PrinciplesDramatic Situations Author:Martin Schulz
“Refugees cost us money too when they come to us. If we improve their living conditions in Turkey, we create an incentive for them to stay there and not to place their fates in the hands of smugglers.” IfsHandsFateConditionsCostRefugeeIncentivesTurkeysSmugglersLiving Conditions Author:Martin Schulz
“If we want to defeat Islamic State, we first have to arrive at a cease-fire agreement in Syria. Once that has been achieved, an anti-IS coalition can be assembled, including Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran. That, however, will be significantly more difficult in the wake of Turkey's downing of the Russian plane.” IfsWantFirstsHas BeensStatesDifficultFireIncludingDefeatRussiaCeasePlanesIslamicAgreementIranSyriaTurkeysArabiaSaudi ArabiaSaudisCoalitionsIslamic StateDowning Author:Martin Schulz
“Businesses will only invest in Greece if three conditions are fulfilled. First, there must be a clear commitment to the euro. No businesses will invest if they have to fear that Greece will leave the euro zone at some point. Second, the Greek government must be prepared to work together with European institutions in order to restructure the country.” IfsFirstsCountryGovernmentTogetherOrderThreeClearConditionsCommitmentInstitutionsPreparedGreekZoneWorking TogetherFulfilledBe PreparedGreeceEuroRestructure Author:Martin Schulz
“Italy is one of the eight major industrial nations. What will happen if a G-8 country within the European Union goes bankrupt? Does anyone think Germany wouldn't be affected? Italy is one of our key markets.” IfsThinkingDoeCountryHappensNationsKeysMajorsUnionsEightGermanyAffectedEuropean Union Author:Martin Schulz
“Imagine a German as president of the European Commission. If he or she goes to some particular country and says do this or that, it won't be very well received. The president quickly ends up being the evil German. But if the president is elected by and controlled by 700 representatives from all EU countries, that legitimizes him or her in a very different way.” IfsWayWellsDifferentEndsCountryEvilPresidentImagineParticularDifferent WaysControlledRepresentatives Author:Martin Schulz
“I'm proud of the fact that Marine Le Pen in France insults me and Geert Wilders in the Netherlands calls me his opponent. The way I see it is, if these people weren't attacking me, I would be doing something wrong.” PeopleIfsWayFactsWould BeProudFranceOpponentsInsultCall MePensMarineAttackingWilderNetherlands Author:Martin Schulz
“If cooperation among governments were the superior concept for progress in Europe, I'd be onboard immediately. But the problem is that cooperation isn't working.” IfsProblemGovernmentProgressConceptsEuropeSuperiorsCooperation Author:Martin Schulz
“Just come to Brussels after a Council meeting. Do you know what happens? Every head of government holds his or her own press conference. They all say the same thing, in 24 languages: I was able to push through my agenda. And if the result is anything other than what they desired, the message is: Brussels is to blame. It has been this way for over 20 years. These messages stick with people, and that's deadly for Europe.” PeopleIfsKnowsWayYearsHas BeensGovernmentHappensAbleLanguageResultsMessagesEuropeBlamePressesSticksMeetingsAgendasDo You KnowConferencesCouncilPress ConferencesBrussels Author:Martin Schulz
“The dream of Europe is a region of freedom and peace, of security, law, democracy, tolerance and mutual respect. If you look into the faces of the refugees you will see this dream. These are people who are fleeing from war, hate, violence and unjust systems.” PeopleIfsLooksWarDreamFacesLawHateDemocracyViolenceSecurityEuropeToleranceRegionsMutualUnjustRefugeeFleeingMutual RespectFreedom And Peace Author:Martin Schulz
“If we no longer judge the content of people's actions, but merely their form, then we are entering dangerous times indeed.” PeopleIfsActionFormDangerousJudgingEntering Author:Martin Schulz
“Gerhard Schröder offered a clear German NEIN to an American president's war of aggression that was in violation of international law. That took courage. Ms. Merkel did not join him at the time. If Trump now begins to take the wrecking ball to our set of values, we must say clearly: That is not our approach.” IfsWarLawValuesPresidentClearTrumpApproachBallsInternationalAggressionViolationInternational LawAmerican President Author:Martin Schulz
“We are living through an epochal shift. If we aren't careful, the elementary foundations of our pluralistic democracy will be threatened.” IfsDemocracyFoundationCarefulThreatened Author:Martin Schulz
