Juncker Quotes & Sayings

I have known a great many politicians who have not managed to stay in power for 16 years. I have nevertheless already managed to remain at the helm for 18 years. I still want to achieve a great many things for my country. Experience is not a disadvantage here, especially as the head of government of a small country in a European setting that has become more difficult. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I am not a dwarf. — Jean-Claude Juncker

We must go back to teach Europeans to love Europe. — Jean-Claude Juncker

Those who are saying that Mario Draghi is in the camp of those trying to push Greece outside the Euroarea, are wrong. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I urge everyone to be patient and reasonable and I warn against shooting from the hip in the truest sense of the term. Pressure and dialogue are needed. — Jean-Claude Juncker

A united Europe is our Continent's only chance to avoid falling off the world's radar. The heads of government of Germany, France and the United Kingdom also know that their voice is only heard internationally because they speak through the megaphone of the European Union. — Jean-Claude Juncker

The Luxembourg financial centre is based on several pillars, we are characterised by the breadth of our product range, we are an active participant in the international credit business. — Jean-Claude Juncker

Greeks have to know that they are not alone ... Those who are fighting for the survivor of Greece inside the Euro area are deeply harmed by the impression floating around in the Greek public opinion that Greece is a victim. Greece is a member of the EU and the euro. I want Greece to be a constructive member of the Union because the EU is also benefiting from Greece. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I have always considered it to be a minor miracle that after the war, people in Europe's border regions were able to forget everything and, in accordance with the slogan "Never Again War," develop a program that still works today. — Jean-Claude Juncker

At the time, Jean-Claude [Juncker] was already an important man in Brussels. I was a young representative in the European Parliament. We talked for a long time and from that point on, our connection became increasingly deep. But our working-class origins are at least as important to our bond. — Martin Schulz

After 30 years in Brussels, I can tell you: The relationship between the Commission and the Parliament has probably never been as good as it is now. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I wouldn't like Greece to stay recession. I do think that everything has to be undertaken to reconnect with growth. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I am for secret, dark debates. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I am chilled by the realization of how similar circumstances in Europe in 2013 are to those of 100 years ago. — Jean-Claude Juncker

When it becomes serious, you have to lie. — Jean-Claude Juncker

The Greek nation has to be respected. I am not in the camp of those who openly want to humiliate Greece. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I am in favor of the European institutions being led for the next two-and-a-half years as they have been thus far. We need stability. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I'm not suffering from withdrawal symptoms. I would say that I have a balanced state of mind. — Jean-Claude Juncker

During our religious instruction in school, we always asked: How can one prove the existence of God? And I have learned that the Catholic Church, which is never at a loss for an answer when it comes to existential questions, responds as follows: This question simply does not arise. — Jean-Claude Juncker

The way some German politicians have lashed out at Greece when the country fell into the crisis has left deep wounds there. I was just as shocked by the banners of protesters in Athens that showed the German chancellor in a Nazi uniform. — Jean-Claude Juncker

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

Without the Turkey agreement, tens of thousands of refugees would still be stuck in Greece. The Commission presented proposals for securing Europe's external borders early on, but they languished in the Council for months. As you can see, the Commission isn't asleep. Oftentimes it has to wake up the others. — Jean-Claude Juncker

[Boris]Johnson, [Nigel] Farage, they are retro-nationalists, not patriots. Patriots don't abandon ship when the going gets tough. They stay on board. — Jean-Claude Juncker

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

We do not attract Russian money to Luxembourg with high interest rates. — Jean-Claude Juncker

For my generation, the monetary union has always been about forging peace. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I put my money on Brexit. The EU Financial Stability Commissioner, Jonathan Hill from Britain, still owes me a pound. — Jean-Claude Juncker

We all know what to do, but we don't know how to get re-elected once we have done it. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I was never presented with the details as far as the collective bargaining system is Greece. I am in favor of a normal system without giving the labour minister the right to extend the results to extend the result of the collective bargaining to the whole of the real economy. The government has to make sure that the results will not harm the situation of small and medium enterprises. — Jean-Claude Juncker

In 1913 many believed that there would never again be a war in Europe. The great powers of the continent were so closely intertwined economically that the view was widespread that they could no longer afford to have military confrontations. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I would have thought that they [Boris Johnson and Nigel Farag] would have had a plan,instead of developing a plan they are leaving the boat. — Jean-Claude Juncker

The person who is ahead in the end will have the advantage. — Jean-Claude Juncker

My father was a steel worker and Martin's [Schulz] grandfather was a miner in Saarland. In these occupations, there is a particular awareness of solidarity. That creates links that aren't present in other relationships. — Jean-Claude Juncker

Europe is a democracy and differences of opinion are part of it. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I don't think Spain will need any kind of external support. — Jean-Claude Juncker

The problem is: When two governments or institutions in Europe hold differing opinions, it is immediately a crisis. — Jean-Claude Juncker

One can't allow blind loyalty to a friendship to lead one away from acting in the public interest. If Martin [Schulz] were to propose something that was totally absurd, our friendship would not prevent me from doing the opposite. — Jean-Claude Juncker

Anyone who believes that the eternal question of war and peace in Europe is no longer there risks being deeply mistaken. — Jean-Claude Juncker

You can't deepen the European Union against the wishes of the European countries. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I don't think in national categories. For me it [policy] is about concepts and substance. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I'm always quite amazed that people in Europe become unnerved when two institutions or two people have different views. — Jean-Claude Juncker

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

Yesterday's shining heroes of Brexit have become the sorrowful heroes of today. — Jean-Claude Juncker

In the end, the British didn't vote to leave because of the euro. They're not even members of the currency union. Even the refugee crisis hardly affected the country. — Jean-Claude Juncker

My main concern is to protect people from detriment. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I would describe that [friendship with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras] as a utilitarian friendship. At the time, his country was facing the prospect of leaving the euro zone and many Greeks felt abandoned by Europe. In such a situation, it seemed appropriate to me to present myself as a friend to Greece. It had to do with the country's dignity. — Jean-Claude Juncker

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

I said in my inaugural address that I am not the Council's secretary, nor am I the Parliament's lackey. That can sometimes lead to conflicts, which are defused through dialogue. — Jean-Claude Juncker

God understands more about the financial markets than many who write about them. — Jean-Claude Juncker

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

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

I'm ready to be insulted as being insufficiently democratic, but I want to be serious ... I am for secret, dark debates — Jean-Claude Juncker

Greece is not a country that can be humiliated. It is a matter of finding an intersection between the reasonable elements of both sides [EU and Greece] which has to be done. — Jean-Claude Juncker

It is always said that Europe is a project of the elite. That's incorrect. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I completely agree with Helmut Kohl. I am not an advocate of the "United States of Europe," nor am I an integration fanatic. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I notice with a certain sense of regret that far too many Europeans are returning to a regional and national mindset. — Jean-Claude Juncker

Stories are invented: Juncker wants to introduce the euro everywhere or immediately deepen the EU - although I publicly stated the opposite that same day. — Jean-Claude Juncker

In the highest government office, you have to be ready to bow out at any time, otherwise you are not a free individual anymore. — Jean-Claude Juncker

You can consider this carved in stone: I rule out becoming Herman Van Rompuy's successor. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I believe neither the French nor the Dutch really rejected the constitutional treaty. — Jean-Claude Juncker

I'm not deaf and the Commission isn't operating in a parallel world of legal texts. — Jean-Claude Juncker

It is not acceptable that European Union countries are divided into those who give and those who take. — Jean-Claude Juncker

When the going gets tough, you have to lie. — Jean-Claude Juncker