Mark Rutte Quotes

If there is not a united policy, this mechanism will not work: it will collapse, and it will... undoubtedly be the end of Schengen, the return of national borders.

A Europe without internal borders can only exist if it has functioning external borders.

Our problem as a country is that most of us do not want to join the euro, and we wish to stay aloof from the common frontiers of the free-travel Schengen area. This makes our relationship with the E.U. fraught with tension and trouble.

Whatever happens with Brexit, what I am absolutely convinced will not happen is that free movement of individuals, free movement of people, will not change, North and South without passports.

Let's put it this way: I am confident that Schengen will continue to be defended. And when it comes to repatriations, we have the same opinion.

Yes, Jean Monnet was the father of the concept of a United States of Europe and his efforts more than those of any other single man helped change the thinking of European leaders.

I do not separate France from Europe.

The principal achievement of Europe is peace, which we often forget about as it has become so taken for granted by Europeans.

German and European unification are two sides of the same coin.

There are achievements of European integration that cannot be haggled over: for example the principle of free movement and the principle of non-discrimination.

I do not have the slightest bit of confidence in the European Union to protect the borders of the European Union.

There's going to be a need for a system of cooperation within the continent of Europe including the U.K. that covers both economic and political cooperation.

I would like free movement within the E.U. as a result of us protecting external borders.

We have to make the argument that the only economically sound place to be is within Europe - we have to remember, it's history again, that there are reasons we bound ourselves together as a set of European nations and it all came out of the second world war.

The issue of migration has played a key role in all of our member states, wherever we are. Only we, as a European Union, can convince our citizens that we do have an answer to this - not deny migration, not pretend you can solve it by building fences and walls, not pretending we can solve it by letting everybody in.

Only Europeans can decide what is best for Europe.

The government rightly resisted pressure to accept Free Movement of people from E.U. countries, to allow us to regain control over our immigration policy.

As we leave the E.U., freedom of movement falls away, because it's an E.U. rule... What we then have to say is, 'What then is on the blank piece of paper that is an immigration policy?'

I'm a big believer in Europe.

What is the issue that has brought the European Union to the brink? The issue of migration.

The ability to control our borders stands at the heart of the debate on whether or not Britain should leave the European Union.

I am convinced that we need a stronger Europe that acts in a common agreement on the most crucial issues. For me these are safety, defense, innovation and the aim to maintain our well being.

Europe is a community of half a billion people, more than Russia and the United States combined.

Germany has to put the broader European interest on the same level as its own national interest, or the euro is toast.

The emergence of a unified Europe is one of the most revolutionary events of our time.