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There is a distorted perception of what goes on in Brussels. No one reports on the Commission taking a hundred initiatives from its predecessor off the table in order to shift competencies back to member state governments.

Jean-Claude Juncker

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Jean-Claude Juncker
Age: 70
Born: 1954
Born: December 9
Former Prime Minister Of Luxembourg
Lawyer
Politician
State
Governments
Initiatives
Order
Table
Distorted
States
Tables
Predecessors
Government
Perception
Commission
Back
Members
Shift
Hundred
Initiative
Predecessor
Taking
Member
Competencies
Goes
Reports
Brussels

More quotes by Jean-Claude Juncker

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I'm not deaf and the Commission isn't operating in a parallel world of legal texts.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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I'm always quite amazed that people in Europe become unnerved when two institutions or two people have different views.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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For my generation, the monetary union has always been about forging peace.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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The position of EU commissioner for economic and monetary affairs could be combined with the office of Euro Group chairman. That job would be a great challenge for anyone who assumed it. On the one hand, he would have to make proposals. On the other hand, he would have to negotiate compromises with his European counterparts.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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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.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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Between now and then, after 43 years of European marriage, the whole body of legislation will therefore have to be disentangled. That entails a whole range of specific and very complex questions: what will be the future legal status of the millions of EU citizens in the UK and the millions of Britons on the continent?
Jean-Claude Juncker
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I assumed office to bring the EU to a point from which there is no going back. Instead, I am having to unwind the EU to a certain extent.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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We must also take this opportunity to learn from the situation [of Brexit], just as we learned from the refugee and debt crises.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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My main concern is to protect people from detriment.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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One shouldn't pursue the wrong policies just because one is afraid of not being reelected. Those who intend to govern have to take responsibility for their countries and for Europe as a whole. This means, if need be, that they have to pursue the right policies, even if many voters think they are the wrong ones.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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I have another explanation [of Brexit]: In its 43 years of EU membership, Britain has never been able to decide whether it wants to fully or only partially belong to the EU.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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In politics, there are different categories of friendship. My friendship with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, for example .
Jean-Claude Juncker
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We can't completely rely on the aberrations of history to explain today's European necessities. Future-related issues are no less pressing.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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I put my money on Brexit. The EU Financial Stability Commissioner, Jonathan Hill from Britain, still owes me a pound.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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But anyone who believes that the eternal issue of war and peace in Europe has been permanently laid to rest could be making a monumental error. The demons haven't been banished they are merely sleeping, as the wars in Bosnia and Kosovo have shown us.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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Angela Merkel did the right thing. Her decision and the extraordinary willingness of the German people to take in refugees conveyed an image of Germany that is still having positive repercussions today. Unfortunately, people in Germany are no longer seeing that.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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In Europe, even more so than in national politics, we have to follow the principle laid down by Martin Luther: Use language that the people will understand, but don't just tell them what they want to hear.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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I don't think in national categories. For me it [policy] is about concepts and substance.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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When the going gets tough, you have to lie.
Jean-Claude Juncker
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It is not more Europe or less Europe that we need. We need a better Europe.
Jean-Claude Juncker