Frans Timmermans Quotes

Britain's destiny lies in Europe.

If the U.K. wants to leave the E.U., we need to stay in the single market.

The U.K. is leaving the E.U. but not Europe.

We never said the U.K. is in bad shape if it leaves the E.U.: we said the E.U. would miss a massive opportunity. Without the U.K., the E.U. may never be able to stand up against superpowers like China and the U.S.

I would wish for more British involvement in Europe, not less.

I hope Britain stays in the European Union, but I don't want to decide for the British.

Our idea is to make the U.K. a privileged partner of the E.U.

I don't want to leave euro or leave the European Union.

Brexit is a major concern for us, and it should be a major concern for all of us who live in the U.K. and operate out of the U.K.

I believe Britain's response to Brexit must be based on core progressive values: internationalism, cooperation, social justice and the rule of law.

Although I wanted to Remain, I know the E.U. is not perfect. I have attended more than enough of its council meetings and read enough of its commission papers to understand its flaws.

What I would rather see, what I think would be the best outcome, is a very close relationship between the United Kingdom and the E.U.

The idea seems to be to use the next treaty talks to strike a grand bargain: Britain will be helpful to those states wishing to establish a fiscal union among themselves if, in exchange, we can amicably derogate from the aspects of the EU which we dislike.

The E.U. is the world's fastest growing democratic body.

The choice is not normally between the north and south. It might be between Britain and Europe.

The E.U.'s 500 million citizens enjoy the right to live and work in any of the Union's 27 member states.

By all means, let's have free trade and no trade barriers and a common market. But where did it all suddenly become about our own economic and political destiny being surrendered to Brussels with agendas that arguably have very little to do with the interests of the British people and British voters?

If there was to be a new Europe, there not only had to be a common market, but also great mobility in labor.

The EU is an English-speaking power. The single market was a British idea…. If you refuse please don’t expect us to help you wreck or paralyze the EU.

I personally hope and wish that Britain will stay part and parcel of the European Union.

The heart of the matter is that the very nature of the European Union, and of this country's relationship with it, has fundamentally changed after the coming into being of the European monetary union and the creation of the eurozone, of which - quite rightly - we are not a part.

As we leave the E.U., the U.K. can turn its back on the austerity policies that have been the hallmark of the euro area.

You need a debate and a vote on the principles: Do you want more Europe or less Europe? Do you believe we are more efficient with defense and security with Europe, or not? Do you believe we are more efficient for our companies with or without Europe? Those are the questions we have to discuss and push our people to vote on it.

We need Britain not only to stay in the E.U. but to be very active in it.

Whether we remain in the European Union will determine Britain's future role in the world and the comparative success of our economy for our children and grandchildren.