“Germany will continue to play a central - perhaps even a more important - role in the European Union. I think that we will all miss the pragmatic approach of the British, however, particularly in those long nights of negotiation.” ThinkingLongImportantPlayNightRolesMissingApproachUnionsBritishGermanyNegotiationEuropean UnionPragmaticLong Nights Author:Jean-Claude Juncker
“The good thing about the European Union is that the joint project ultimately benefits all Member States and not just a few.” StatesMembersBenefitsProjectsGood ThingsUnionsJointsEuropean Union Author:Jean-Claude Juncker
“I assume that our colleagues from both the United States and the European Union will proceed from current humanitarian law and ensure political freedoms and rights of all people, including those who are living in the territory of Baltic states after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.” PeopleStatesLawPoliticalUnitedUnited StatesRightsAssumingUnionsIncludingCurrentsHumanitarianTerritorySovietColleaguesSoviet UnionEuropean UnionPolitical FreedomDisintegrationHumanitarian Law Author:Vladimir Putin
“The European Union's enlargement is part of the natural process of integration and globalisation that is underway in the world today.” WorldTodayProcessNaturalUnionsIntegrationWorld TodayEuropean UnionGlobalisationEnlargement Author:Vladimir Putin
“I trust Angela Merkel, she is a very open person. She is also subject to certain constraints and limitations. But she is honestly trying to settle the crisis, also in the south-east of Ukraine. However, what the European Union is doing with those sanctions is nothing but a theatre of the absurd.” TryingPersonsCertainSubjectsCrisisUnionsSouthEastTheatreHonestlyAbsurdLimitationSettlingConstraintsUkraineSanctionsEuropean UnionAngela Author:Vladimir Putin
“Britain is leaving and has de facto left the European Union; however, it has not withdrawn from its special relationship with the United States and I believe that the UK's relations with Russia depend on Britain's special relationship with the United States rather than on its presence in or absence from the European Union.” BelieveStatesLeftI BelieveUnitedUnited StatesSpecialDependsRelationUnionsLeavingAbsenceRussiaBritainEuropean UnionSpecial Relationship Author:Vladimir Putin
“Countries will cooperate with each other, and are more likely to cooperate with each other when they share a common culture, as is most dramatically illustrated in the European Union. But other groupings of countries are emerging in East Asia and in South America. Basically, as I said, these politics will be oriented around, in large part, cultural similarities and cultural antagonism.” SaidCountryAmericaCultureCommonShareUnionsSouthEastAsiaEmergingSimilarityEuropean UnionSouth AmericaAntagonismEast AsiaCommon Culture Author:Samuel P. Huntington
“I wouldn't rule out the possibility of Muslim or at least Arab countries developing some form of organization comparable to the European Union. I don't think that's very likely, but it conceivably could happen.” ThinkingCountryHappensFormPossibilityOrganizationUnionsDevelopingEuropean Union Author:Samuel P. Huntington
“I wanted to start by saying that the eurozone - there are two reasons they formed the European Union. One is for political peace and rationalization. And I think that's a good thing for a continent that went through hundreds of years of wars.” ThinkingYearsTwoWarReasonWantedPoliticalGood ThingsUnionsContinentsEuropean UnionEurozone Author:Jamie Dimon
“In Western Europe, Turkey is regarded as uncivilized, so they can't come in into the European Union until they're civilized. I think it's the other way around. If you could achieve the level of civilization of, say, Turkish intelectuals, it would be quite an achievement.” IfsThinkingWayWould BeLevelsAchieveCivilizationAchievementEuropeUnionsWesternCivilizedTurkeysEuropean UnionTurkishWestern EuropeUncivilized Author:Noam Chomsky
“The strategic partnership between the European Union and the United States is rooted in our shared values of freedom, human rights, democracy and a belief in the market economy.” HumansStatesValuesBeliefUnitedUnited StatesEconomyDemocracyRightsUnionsHuman RightsRootedPartnershipStrategicEuropean UnionMarket EconomyShared Values Author:Donald Tusk
“Over the years, the European Union and the United States have worked together to ensure peace and prosperity for our citizens and for people around the world.” PeopleWorldYearsStatesTogetherUnitedUnited StatesCitizensUnionsProsperityAround The WorldEuropean Union Author:Donald Tusk
“The European Union and the United States of America are the big important economic areas for us, which is why I always have come up strongly in favor of concluding a trade agreement with the United States of America.” ImportantStatesBigsAmericaUnitedUnited StatesEconomicAreasTradeUnionsCome UpFavorsAgreementUnited States Of AmericaEuropean UnionTrade AgreementsConcluding Author:Angela Merkel
“It's important that the disparities in the living conditions cannot be allowed in this digital period to be too marked. Each and every one must be given an opportunity to participate, which is why Germany's fate in many ways depends on the firmness of its alliance with NATO, with the European Union.” WayImportantOpportunityGivenFateConditionsDependsPeriodsUnionsGermanyDigitalAlliancesEuropean UnionNatoDisparityFirmnessLiving Conditions Author:Angela Merkel
“While we're members of the European Union, we don't have an immigration policy. We can't have an immigration policy. It's a charade for people to pretend we do.” PeoplePolicyMembersUnionsImmigrationEuropean UnionImmigration PolicyCharades Author:Nigel Farage
“[Pope Francis] continued to focus on migrants. He visited the Greek island of Lesbos, which was the front line of the European migrant crisis. And a month later, he accepted a prestigious European Union prize, but he scolded Europe for its treatment of migrants. And in a speech echoing Martin Luther King, he said I have a dream of a Europe where being a migrant is not a crime. So, yeah, he showed he can be quite outspoken on political issues.” SaidDreamPoliticalLinesIssuesFocusFrontsCrimeMonthsKingsSpeechEuropeCrisisYeahUnionsAcceptedGreekIslandsTreatmentPrizePopeLutherEuropean UnionMigrantsOutspokenPolitical IssuesPrestigiousScolded Author:Sylvia Poggioli
“We all want the Greek people to prosper, to be able to provide a good life for their families and their children. That would be good for Greece, that would be good for the European Union, good for the United States, and ultimately, good for the world.” PeopleWorldWantChildrenStatesWould BeAbleUnitedUnited StatesUnionsBe GoodGreekGood LifeGreeceEuropean Union Author:Barack Obama
“I am interested in making sure that the people of Cyprus will be able to live in a reunited Cyprus, where they are free, where there's a democracy, freedom and Cyprus is a member of the European Union.” PeopleAbleDemocracyMembersUnionsEuropean UnionReunitedDemocracy FreedomCyprus Author:Alexis Tsipras
“Not partial membership of the European Union or anything that leaves us half in, half out. No, the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union.” UnitedHalfUnionsLeavingKingdomsEuropean UnionMembershipUnited Kingdom Author:Theresa May
“I should also say that apart from the negotiations that are taking place within the WTO, we are ourselves involved in all manner of bilateral negotiations, or, if they are not bilateral, with the South African Customs Union and the European Union. All the member countries of the European Union have now ratified the agreement that we have with the EU and that opens up the EU market in various ways.” IfsWayShouldCountryInvolvedMembersUnionsSouthVariousAgreementCustomsSouth AfricaNegotiationEuropean Union Author:Thabo Mbeki
“While the United States (US) can view the war as a success, Europe must see it as a failure for it and, in particular, for the institutions of the European Union (EU).” WarStatesUnitedViewsUnited StatesParticularEuropeInstitutionsUnionsEuropean Union Author:Paul Virilio
“There are exceptions of course, like for instance the Baltic States, which are members of the European Union, together with Ukraine and Moldova, as well. In those countries, the governments have been reformed as a result of elections.” WellsHas BeensCountryStatesGovernmentTogetherCoursesResultsMembersElectionUnionsInstanceExceptionUkraineEuropean Union Author:Garry Kasparov
“One of the issues that has been an issue in how we deal with net migration up until now is that we haven't been able to have any control over freedom of movement from the European Union. We will have that control in the future once we leave the EU.” Has BeensAbleDealsIssuesHavensMovementUnionsEuropean UnionMigration Author:Theresa May
“There's a whole range of areas that we'll be looking at, so I'm not at this very early stage going to specify any particular areas. As you will know, there will be a limit to how far we can go in terms of a formal free trade agreement until we've actually left the European Union. I think there is much that we [with Donald Trump] can do in the interim in terms of looking at how we can remove some of the barriers to trade in a number of areas.” ThinkingKnowsWholeLeftTermCan DoNumbersStageParticularTrumpLimitsAreasTradeUnionsRangeRemoveBarriersAgreementFormalEuropean UnionFree TradeTrade AgreementsInterim Author:Theresa May
“I'm convinced that a trade deal between the U.S. and the U.K. is in the national interest of both countries and will cement the crucial relationship that exists between us, particularly as the U.K. leaves the European Union and reaches out to the world.” WorldCountryInterestDealsTradeUnionsConvincedCrucialReach OutEuropean UnionCementNational Interests Author:Theresa May
“I'm against the European Union, but I am very much in favor of Europe.” EuropeUnionsFavorsEuropean Union Author:Geert Wilders
“Europe is my home, Europe is my continent. Europe is where we live. The European Union is a political bureaucratic organization that took away our identity and our national sovereignty. So, I would get rid of the European Union and be a nation-state again.” StatesHomePoliticalNationsIdentityEuropeOrganizationUnionsContinentsSovereigntyEuropean UnionNational Sovereignty Author:Geert Wilders
“Both the Eurozone and European Union is like the end of the Roman Empire. It's already started. In a few years' time it will not be there anymore. Don't ask me if it will be two years or ten years but the end is near. Like the Roman Empire, it's gone.” IfsYearsTwoEndsAsksGoneTenUnionsAsk MeEmpiresTwo YearsEuropean UnionRoman EmpireEurozoneEnd Is Near Author:Geert Wilders
“The European Union can now act like a major power, at least that is what the European Union tells us.” MajorsUnionsEuropean Union Author:John Bolton
“I have always been conscious of the importance and the strength of nationalism, and this has led me straight to the acknowledgment of the nationalism of the Palestinian people. I believe there is no way around this: We have to have a solution based on two national states, which will hopefully live and grow together and establish a relationship between them in something like a European Union.” PeopleWayBelieveTwoStatesTogetherI BelieveGrowsSolutionsConsciousImportanceUnionsHopefullyNationalismPalestinianEuropean UnionAcknowledgment Author:Uri Avnery
“Membership in the European Community, now the European Union, has helped Ireland to take its place as a European country with all the member states, including Britain. It has therefore helped the maturing of a good bilateral relationship with Britain, lifting part of the burden of history.” CountryStatesCommunityMembersUnionsIncludingBurdenBritainMatureIrelandLiftingEuropean UnionMembershipEuropean Countries Author:Mary Robinson
“Membership in the European Community, now the European Union, has enabled Ireland to re-find its sense of participation - cultural, political, social - at the European level. I think that also opens up possibilities for Ireland as a European country to look outward - to look particularly, for example, at countries to which a lot of Irish people emigrated, to our links - our human links - with the United States, with Canada, with Australia, with New Zealand. And to look also, because of our history, at our links to the developing countries.” PeopleThinkingHumansLooksCountryStatesPoliticalSocialCommunityLevelsUnitedUnited StatesExamplePossibilityUnionsDevelopingCanadaAustraliaLinksIrelandParticipationEuropean UnionNew ZealandMembershipEuropean CountriesDeveloping Countries Author:Mary Robinson
“Thanks to the European Union, Ireland has a much more open climate of discussion and debate, as you can see in the media. It means that we are a more questioning society, perhaps more honestly prepared to address serious issues and problems, more open to the idea that different viewpoints should be heard and respected.” ShouldMeanIdeasDifferentProblemIssuesHeardMediaSeriousUnionsPreparedClimateHonestlyDebateThanksDiscussionAddressesIrelandQuestioningEuropean UnionViewpointsSerious Issues Author:Mary Robinson
“In Europe there's kind of a reaction to the European Union, kind of a move towards some kind of regionalization. It's more advanced in some regions than others, like in Spain for example. Catelan was repressed under Franco. People spoke it, but not publicly. It's now the language of Catelonia. The Basque language is being revived, not just the language but the culture, the folk music and everything else. So you're getting more diverse societies, and it's happening in Britain as well.” PeopleWellsKindMovingCultureLanguageExampleHappeningsEuropeUnionsFolksReactionsBritainRegionsSpokesDiverseSpainEuropean UnionRepressedFolk MusicFrancoBasquesDiverse Society Author:Noam Chomsky
“I like this idea of the re-foundation of the European Union, maybe it can be done, because Europe - I do not say is unique, but it has a force, a culture, a history that cannot be wasted, and we must do everything so that the European Union has the strength and also the inspiration to make it go forward. That's what I think.” ThinkingIdeasDoneInspirationCultureForceUniqueEuropeFoundationUnionsEuropean Union Author:Pope Francis
“[Russians would like to] undermine the West and its institutions, create doubts about NATO, create doubts about the European Union, support nationalists on the right just as the Soviet communists supported communists on the left. Weaken the West in general and create an atmosphere in which we`re uncertain about ourselves.” LeftSupportDoubtInstitutionsUnionsWestAtmosphereCommunistSovietUncertainEuropean UnionNato Author:Daniel Fried
“The European Union, ok, right, it has a bureaucracy, right. It`s sometimes difficult to deal with but so what? You hire a couple of people like me to work the European Union, and it can be done. It`s pretty good.” PeopleSometimesDoneDifficultDealsCoupleUnionsLike MeBureaucracyEuropean Union Author:Daniel Fried
“Continuous wars - which we have now had since 2001 - starting with Afghanistan, continuing on to Iraq. And even since Iraq, it's been more or less continuous. The appalling war in Libya, which has wrecked that country and wrecked that part of the world, and which isn't over by any means. The indirect Western intervention in Syria, which has created new monsters. These are policies, which if carried out by any individual government, would be considered extremist. Now, they're being carried out collectively by the United States, backed by some of the countries of the European Union.” IfsWorldMeanWarCountryStatesGovernmentWould BeIndividualUnitedUnited StatesPolicyUnionsWesternStartingIraqMonstersAfghanistanContinuingSyriaInterventionExtremistEuropean UnionLibyaIndirectContinuing On Author:Tariq Ali
“The European Union is a union of the extreme center. It's a banker's union. You see how they operate in country after country, appointing technocrats to take over and run countries for long periods. They did it in Greece; they did it in Italy; they considered it in other parts of Europe.” LongCountryRunningPeriodsEuropeUnionsExtremesGreeceBankersEuropean Union Author:Tariq Ali
“The European Union is effectively a union dominated by the German political and economic elite. Its main function is to serve as a nucleus for financial capitalism and to ease the road for that capitalism. The other functions just irritate everyone: it's undemocratic; decisions are not made by parliament; the European Parliament is not sovereign.” MadePoliticalDecisionEconomicCapitalismFunctionUnionsFinancialEaseElitesSovereignParliamentEuropean UnionNucleus Author:Tariq Ali
“The European Union has lost virtually all of its credibility amongst large swaths of the European population.” LostUnionsPopulationCredibilityEuropean Union Author:Tariq Ali
“Effectively, the EU is a very powerful bureaucracy, dominated now by the German elite, which is backed by the rest of the European Union members.” PowerfulMembersUnionsElitesBureaucracyVery PowerfulEuropean Union Author:Tariq Ali
“I think another crisis, which is being predicted now and which will be worse than what we saw in 2008, could bring the European Union down unless there are huge reforms from within to democratize, to give more power to the regions, etc. If this doesn't happen, the European Union will fall.” IfsThinkingGivingHappensFallSawsHugeCrisisUnionsReformEtcRegionsEuropean Union Author:Tariq Ali
“At the time of German Reunification, it was no secret that Germany would soon become the strongest political entity in the European Union. And that has happened.” PoliticalSecretHappenedUnionsGermanyStrongestEntityEuropean UnionReunification Author:Tariq Ali
“There are huge political problems in Germany, but German economic power is something which was bound to happen. The way out of this situation is through the further democratization of the European Union and a changing of its structures.” WayProblemHappensPoliticalSituationEconomicHugeStructureUnionsBoundsGermanyEuropean UnionEconomic PowerDemocratization Author:Tariq Ali
“If there is a Greek exit from the Eurozone, I think the German elite will be quite pleased that they can then use that to restructure the Eurozone and make it a zone where only strong countries are allowed in. There would then be two tiers within the European Union, which is in fact already happening. But you cannot simply get rid of German control by raising the specter of the Third Reich. That's ahistorical.” IfsThinkingTwoCountryFactsUseStrongHappeningsThirdsUnionsGreekZoneElitesExitEuropean UnionRestructureEurozone Author:Tariq Ali
“Just imagine, more than half of the young people in the European Union do not have jobs. How can one explain that? How can one explain that to a working family, that produces goods and services, those who produce the olive oil that is a a main source of food in any European country? They humbly work the land with great effort and then the little resources they had saved in banks have now become dust simply because they did not have the means to withstand inflation produced by the adjustment policies.” PeopleMeanLittlesCountryJobsYoungEffortHalfImagineLandPolicyProduceSourceResourcesUnionsOilSavedDustGoodsInflationAdjustmentEuropean UnionOlivesEuropean CountriesGoods And ServicesGreat EffortOlive Oil Author:Alejandro Castro Espin
“To achieve effectiveness and legitimacy it is time to scrap the right of veto given to permanent members of the UN, or at least severely restrict its use. It is also time to either abandon the idea of permanent membership or broaden it to reflect the rise of non-Western states to the status of global leaders (e.g. Brazil, India, Indonesia, Turkey, South Africa), and to downgrade European representation by either giving the European Union a single seat or rotating a European state among Germany, France, UK, and Italy.” GivingIdeasStatesUseGivenLeaderAchieveMembersIndiaUnionsSouthWesternFrancePermanentGermanySeatsAbandonSouth AfricaRepresentationTurkeysIndonesiaEffectivenessEuropean UnionScrapBrazilMembershipLegitimacyVetoRotating Author:Richard A. Falk
“Britain is not part of the single currency. That is a decision we have taken, a voluntary decision of this country, but as a result are part of a European Union 19 of whose members are rapidly integrating, creating political, fiscal, monetary, economic union to make their currency work. And that is increasingly rubbing up against the operation.” CountryPoliticalDecisionResultsTakenEconomicMembersCreatingUnionsOperationsBritainCurrencyEuropean UnionMonetaryIntegrating Author:George Osborne
“Establishing proper economic governance that allows the Eurozone to undertake the integration it needs whilst protecting the interests of the single market for all 28, the rights of member states who are not in the Euro - including of course the UK - is really important for the future of the European Union.” NeedsImportantStatesCoursesInterestRightsEconomicMembersUnionsIncludingIntegrationGovernanceEuropean UnionEuroEurozone Author:George Osborne