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Quote by Sigmar Gabriel

“I hope that a German foreign policy in 2028 will be part of a European foreign policy, because even the strong country of Germany won't really have a voice in the world if it is not part of a European voice.”

Quote by Sigmar Gabriel

Author

Sigmar Gabriel is a former German Federal Minister of the Environment. Born on September 12, 1959, he has had a significant impact on German politics and environmental protection. more

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“It is clear that Germany needs a foreign policy in which we jointly define European interests. Thus far, we have often defined European values, but we have been much too weak in defining mutual interests. To preempt any possible misunderstandings: We cannot give short shrift to our values of freedom, democracy and human rights.”

Giving Values Interest Democracy Policy Weak Human Rights Mutual Foreign Policy Misunderstanding

Author:Sigmar Gabriel

“Political scientist Herfried Münkler is right: If you only take normative positions, if your focus is solely on values, you won't find success in a world where others are relentlessly pursuing their interests. In a world full of meat-eaters, vegetarians have a tough time.”

World Political Values Interest Focus Tough Scientist Vegetarian Tough Times

Author:Sigmar Gabriel

“In the past, Germany could rely on the French, the British and, especially, the Americans, to assert our interests in the world. We have always criticized the U.S. for being the global police, and it was often appropriate to do so. But we are now seeing what happens when the U.S. pulls back. If the U.S. leaves the room, other powers immediately walk in. In Syria, it's Russia and Iran. In trade policy, it's China. These examples show that, ultimately, we are no longer achieving either - neither the dissemination of our European values nor the advancement of our interests.”

World Past Values Interest Achieve Policy Police Trade Rely Syria

Author:Sigmar Gabriel

“When you think back today to a time more than 70 years ago when Germany was a terrible place, a place people were afraid of, it is a wonderful development that we have gone from being a terrible place to a place that people dream of.”

People Thinking Dream Today Wonderful Terrible

Author:Sigmar Gabriel

“It isn't easy for everyone in Germany to make ends meet through well-paid work in Germany. You have to have sufficient skills and work hard. And I also know that we have much too much poverty and inequality here. Still, our parents and grandparents built an incredibly prosperous and peaceful country. One shouldn't, of course, play down the degree to which this is dependent on our economic strength. The truth is that Moscow, Beijing and Washington have one thing in common: They don't value the European Union at all. They disregard it.”

Country Values Easy Parent Common Poverty Economic Hard Work Truth Is Peaceful Inequality Grandparent Prosperous European Union

Author:Sigmar Gabriel

“Less and less is the question being asked as to whether developments are taking place in a democratic and free way. Europe is in a phase in which this output is no longer sufficiently visible or tangible. Youth unemployment is still far too high, we still haven't solved our currency problem and living conditions in Europe are drifting apart. That is one reason why critics say that our Europe is based on yesteryear's model.”

Reason Problem Youth Democratic Critics Currency Drifting

Author:Sigmar Gabriel

“A major danger for us Europeans: We must demonstrate that those who have this view of us are mistaken, that we can come to agreement, that we as a community of democratic and free nations are economically successful and are gaining political influence. To do so, we must learn to project our power.”

Political Community Successful Influence Danger Democratic Mistaken

Author:Sigmar Gabriel

“Countries that work with Europe should feel safer than they would if they worked with non-democratic regimes. Why isn't Europe building infrastructure in Africa instead of leaving it to the Chinese? Why haven't we succeeded in promoting the economic development of our neighbors in the Balkans, instead conceding these countries to growing Russian influence? In an uncomfortable world, we Europeans can no longer sit back and wait for the U.S.A.”

World Country Waiting Influence Economic Building Leaving Neighbor Chinese Uncomfortable Economic Development

Author:Sigmar Gabriel

“Becoming food savvy is one thing, but it's amazing how fast savvy turns to snooty, and snooty leaves you preparing three-hour meals that break your budget and that the kids won't even eat.”

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“The claim that democracy and efficiency are contradictory is nonsense. That's evident in the history of democracy itself, because it is only democrats who were and continue to be capable of learning from mistakes. A more appropriate question is to ask whether a country like China, which has been so incredibly successful economically, is actually inefficient in light of its environmental destruction and its corruption. In China's perception, however, the democratic model is doubtlessly inferior.”

Country Mistake Democracy Successful Perception Capable Destruction Democratic Democrat Environmental Corruption Nonsense Efficiency Contradictory Learning From Mistakes

Author:Sigmar Gabriel