The first thing to know about our transatlantic relationship and what makes it so special, is that it is first and foremost a friendship. Allow me to tell you a story close to my heart. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, to the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU for the award of Special Bridge Builder, 2 October 2019.
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2019-11-03
These six moments, these six examples are all examples of crises. But every time we have been challenged, we have found solutions and even surprised ourselves with what we can achieve. This is a fitting way to tell the story of European construction. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, celebrating 20 years of the Economic and Monetary Union, 'Building the euro: moments in time, lessons in history, 19 June 2019.
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2019-06-30
The European Union said so in November. We said so in December. We said so after the first meaningful vote in the Commons in January. The debate and votes in the House of Commons yesterday do not change that. The Withdrawal Agreement will not be renegotiated. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, Debate on the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU, 30 January 2019.
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2019-02-24
L'événement d'aujourd'hui est un événement surprise. Rappelez-vous que nombreux furent ceux qui, lorsque nous avons lancé le processus nous conduisant vers la monnaie unique, nous prenaient pour des fous, disant qu'en aucune façon, cette Union monétaire entre des pays si disparates ne pourrait fonctionner. On les entend moins aujourd'hui. Députés, ici et ailleurs; journalistes, partout; professeurs de droit, surtout en Allemagne; professeurs en sciences économiques, encore en Allemagne – tout le monde nous disait que nous nous lancions dans une aventure qui conduirait l'Union européenne au bord de l'abîme. Nous sommes loin de l'abîme parce qu'aujourd'hui nous pouvons constater – oui, avec satisfaction, avec presque du bonheur – que l'œuvre que nous avons entreprise il y a 20 années fut couronnée de succès. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, Celebration of the 20th anniversary of the euro, 15 January 2019
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2019-01-27
I mention this story for three reasons. First, I want to pay tribute to Mr Brookins and all other American soldiers for their courage and bravery. We are forever grateful (…). Secondly, because many (…) who were there that day in December 1944 are no longer around to tell the story themselves. (…)The third reason is that this story shows the unbreakable bond that makes the transatlantic partnership what it is. This bond explains a lot about how we have been able to come so far together. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, 'Transatlantic relations at a crossroads', Washington, 25 July 2018
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2018-09-01
Trade wars have no winners – they only leave scars. Tariffs will not protect national security – they will only undermine economic security. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, 'Transatlantic relations at a crossroads', Washington, 25 July 2018
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2018-09-01
We had some luck along the way but we also made our own luck. When faced with the wake-up call, Europe's leaders and institutions came together. We chose unity. Together, we chose to rally around a common positive agenda and renew our vows to our Union of solidarity. And the results start to speak for themselves. Every economy in our Union is now growing healthily. Employment is at an all-time high, unemployment at a 9-year low. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, Ideas Lab 2018 ''Europe – Back on Track'', 22 February 2018
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2018-02-24
Salamanca est indissociable de son université, université à réputation mondiale. Et son université est indissociable de la liberté intellectuelle, de ce pouvoir, qui est le vrai pouvoir, de dire non, non aux divisions, non au rejet de l'autre, non aux dictatures. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, Remise du doctorat honoris causa de l'Université de Salamanque, 9 November 2017
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2017-11-25
The wind is back in Europe's sails. We now have a window of opportunity but it will not stay open forever. Let us make the most of the momentum, catch the wind in our sails. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, State of the European Union address, 13 September 2017
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2017-09-23
J'ai trois minutes pour vous parler de 30 années d'un des programmes les plus emblématiques de l'Union européenne qui de 11 pays à l'origine s'étend aujourd'hui à 33 pays, et qui, en encourageant la mobilité de tous les jeunes et en leur permettant de développer leurs talents et leurs compétences, a fait émerger une véritable Union des citoyens. Trois minutes, c'est court ! Je n'aurai donc qu'un seul message pour l'avenir : alors que nous allons fêter le 9 millionième jeune Erasmus, soyons ensemble au moins 9 fois plus ambitieux car Erasmus est une bonne réponse à la bêtise des égoïsmes nationaux et du repli sur soi. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, 30th anniversary of Eramsus, 13 June 2017
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2017-06-25
Il n'y a pas suffisamment de solidarité en Europe. Le grand absent européen, c'est la solidarité. A qui le dis-je ? En Italie, et je l'ai dit dans cette ville même, en faisant campagne en 2014 avec le résultat que vous connaissez. L'Italie, dès le premier jour de la crise migratoire, fait tout ce qu'elle peut faire. L'Italie en fait, faute de présence suffisante de l'Europe, a sauvé et sauve jusqu'à ce jour l'honneur de l'Europe. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, State of the Union conference: Building a people's Europe, European University Institute, Florence, 5 May 2017.
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2017-05-28
L’Europe n'est pas une évidence. L'Europe fut et l'Europe restera un choix.- Europe is not self-evident. Europe has always been and will always be a choice. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, L'Europe aujourd'hui et demain, 23 February 2017.
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2017-02-26
Je laisse maintenant mon discours, que des mains inspirées ont rédigé, mais en regardant la salle, je crois que je vais vous parler d'une autre façon. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, Remise du prix de l'engagement européen, 6 octobre 2016
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2016-11-06
Prime Minister, Ministers, Commissioners, Ladies and Gentlemen, In Europe, we are used to 24 official languages. That is the reason why I am not expressing myself in English but in French, because French is an as important language as English. But for reasons of respect for this assembly I will not express myself in Luxembourgish, although Luxembourgish has the same value as the two other languages mentioned. Mes chers amis, … -- Jean-Claude Juncker, EU-China Business Summit, Beijing, 13 July 2016
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2016-08-28
In my political life, I have often recalled the words of that great advocate of human rights, James Freeman Clarke, who said: "A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation." -- Jean-Claude Juncker, Annual General Meeting of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises, 21 June 2016
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2016-06-26
Retrouvons donc le courage de nos prédécesseurs, le courage d'affronter les difficultés pour les vaincre, celui de ne pas subir l'histoire mais de faire l'histoire, d'en être les architectes, les artisans, les constructeurs. Audaces fortuna juvat. Nous le devons aux jeunes Européens. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, Award Ceremony of the Charlemagne Prize to Pope Francis, 6 May 2016
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2016-05-29
We have full-time Europeans when it comes to taking, and we have part-time Europeans when it comes to giving. In former times, all those implied in the project were full-time Europeans. Now we have too many part-time Europeans. -- Jean-Claude Juncker, Panel discussion on the "State of the European Union", 5 May 2016
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2016-05-29
Europe faces its greatest refugee crisis since the Second World War. This crisis is testing our values, and it is testing our will. And it is reminding us that solidarity is not only a moral virtue but an essential part of our European Union.
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2016-05-01
What has become of us? The richest continent in the world, with 500 million inhabitants, and yet to say from the outset that we would be unable to accept one or two million refugees ? Talking to the King of Jordan and the Lebanese Prime Minister, as I do on a regular basis, leaves me feeling ashamed. Jordan, a country with 8-9 million inhabitants, has taken over 630 000 refugees from Syria, a figure which excludes the 500 000 Palestinian refugees. In Lebanon, 25 % of the population are refugees, newly arrived from Syria. And we, as Europeans, say we can’t manage. What must the others think of us? -- President J-C Juncker, The European Union: a source of stability in a time of crisis, The Hague, 3 March 2016
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2016-04-03
What we were able to do on the continent should be repeated here. I have to tell you, coming from this small Grand Duchy I am coming from: Germany invaded Luxembourg twice in a century. I lost members of my family in concentration camps so I never knew them because they had passed away. My father, one of 12 children, was incorporated by force, together with three of his brothers into the German Wehrmacht. They had to fight, in a hatred uniform, against those who were trying to liberate my country. If it was possible on this European continent to make peace, after all these family tragedies, after all these countries and nation tragedies, why should not it be possible to do the same here? President Juncker, 17 July 2015, House of Representatives of Cyprus
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2016-03-09
Our European Union is not in a good state. There is not enough Europe in this Union. And there is not enough Union in this Union. We have to change this. And we have to change this now. President Juncker, State of the Union 2015: Time for Honesty, Unity and Solidarity, 9 September 2015
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2016-03-09
Nos conclusions seront scrutées de près alors que beaucoup d'observateurs abondent chaque jour en commentaires qui se sous-catégorisent grosso modo entre ceux qui clament que de psychodrames en psychodrames l'Europe se disloque peu à peu, et ceux qui attendent des dirigeants européens un sursaut d'énergie, de clairvoyance, de vision sur le long terme. Il nous appartiendra de donner tort aux premiers, et de donner de l'espérance aux seconds, en commençant par notre gestion de la crise des réfugiés, à propos de laquelle tout a déjà été dit, mais où beaucoup reste encore à faire. President of the European Commission J-C Juncker, Preparation of the European Council meeting of 18 and 19 February 2016
Jean-Claude Juncker
Posted by Isabelle le 2016-03-09