In the age of globalisation, pooled sovereignty means more power, not less.

Germany is the power engine of Europe. Without a dynamic Germany, Europe cannot recover.

There's a tendency in many politicians to become inward-looking, more protectionist, more nationalistic and more defensive, in the bad sense of the word.

The dynamic of globalisation in financial and economic terms, but also in geopolitical terms, confronts Europeans with a stark choice: live together, share a common destiny and count in the world; or face the prospect of disunity and decline.

We are putting more and more power into a system which is less and less able to carry it reliably.

There is more power in unity than division.