presidents-of-the-european-council

"An absolute majority doesn't mean absolute power. It doesn't mean governing alone. It's an increased responsibility."

"This is a special night for me. The Portuguese have confirmed that they want a Socialist Party government for the next four years ... They want stability, certainty and security."

"It is sad to see a country leaving that twice liberated us, [that has] twice given its blood to liberate Europe"

"I wanted to be sure that there would be no automatic deportation for people after that period because it can be people who are very vulnerable"

"If the UK doesn’t pay what is due, the EU will not negotiate a trade deal."

"I think there will be huge support for Remain – that’s very clear. We’re going to see it... I’m pretty sure that there will be great support and certainly for the most pro-European party: the Lib Dems."

"There is only one pro-European party in Britain and it is the Lib Dems."

"I know that within the Tory party the hard Brexiteers are compared to the leaders of the French revolution. I think Gove is Brissot, and Boris Johnson is Danton, and Rees-Mogg is compared to Robespierre. We should not forget that the efforts of these men were not appreciated by the common man they claimed to represent – because they all ended up on the guillotine. So that’s important to remind [them]."

"The only winners from a Brexit would be Nigel Farage and Vladimir Putin; who would relish a divided Europe."

"So, Mr Barroso, the most important conclusion of today has to be the message that you gave. You gave it here, very well and to much applause, but now you have to repeat it in another place, somewhere in Brussels, at the Council. I am no longer there, but I am sure we will know what you say there. You will have to repeat it there, telling them that the intergovernmental method is a bad method that cannot work. And why can it not work? Because it needs unanimity; the Polish know about that, as Poland disappeared in the 18th century because of the unanimity rule in the Polish Parliament: that is history and reality. The same could happen in Europe if we continue with this unanimity rule. We have to abolish it. Colleagues, this is the real problem. Why is there such a problem in this crisis? Because the Member States are reluctant to transfer new sovereignty and powers to the European Union. We all know that the only way out of this crisis is a new transfer of powers to the European Union and to the European institutions. That is at stake."

"[Brexit] is stupidity for a country with 53 percent of its exports going to the Continent and to the rest of Europe. It’s even so stupid that Britain’s best friends, the U.S., don’t understand it all."

"There is a historic battle going on across the west, in Europe, America, and elsewhere. It is globalism against populism. And you may loathe populism, but I’ll tell you a funny thing. It is becoming very popular! And it has great benefits. No more financial contributions, no more European Courts of Justice. No more European Common Fisheries Policy, no more being talked down to. No more being bullied, no more Guy Verhofstadt! What’s not to like. I know you’re going to miss us, I know you want to ban our national flags, but we’re going to wave you goodbye, and we’ll look forward in the future to working with you as a sovereign nation… [Farage is cut off by the chair]"

"There’s a war criminal coming to this country. ... The occupation and expansion … building of settlements, of occupied territory, this is according to the Rome Statute, which is… the setup… the statute on which the is based, in so many words, a . ... So why should we receive someone who continues with such things, we could have sent him right away to the international criminal court, that would have been better"

"I am only an Aryan."

"EU27 is not working on 'no-deal' scenario."

"They [i.e. the Christian National Union] don't emphasize procapitalist thinking. Basing themselves on the social teachings of the church, they will advocate the model of the denominational state. That is why two strong rightist parties will arise. The Liberal party will resolutely distance itself from the nationalist orientation. It will occupy the Center-Right niche and enter into a coalition with democratic and procapitalist forces, e.g., with the Movement for Polish Politics."

"I can confirm that Poland will join the euro zone, and not just because all the treaties are signed, but because I consider it of strategic interest both for Poland and the European Union. But only a fool would believe that the euro could provide a guarantee that a financial crisis would never happen again."

"I'm incapable of getting angry with Angela Merkel."

"We want to understand democracy as an endless discussion, or a constant debate when we choose a path. (...) But when the consensus comes, (...) we work as one body."

"Europe is not old, haggard or barren. Europe is young, dynamic and vital. Our continent remains the best place in the world to live."

"To defend [my vision of Europe] does not mean to lecture anyone. The British citizens will make this decision themselves and they do not need any whisperers, especially from Brussels. I understand this very well. But when I hear the EU being compared to the plans and projects of Adolf Hitler I cannot remain silent. Such absurd arguments should be completely ignored if they hadn't been formulated by one of the most influential politicians of the ruling party."

"As a historian I fear Brexit could be the beginning of the destruction of not only the EU but also Western political civilisation in its entirety."

"Every family knows that a divorce is traumatic for everyone. Everyone in the EU, but especially the Brits themselves, would lose out economically [if Britain left the EU]."

"Tragic paradox that the subject of #NiceAttack was the people celebrating liberty, equality and fraternity."

"The claims, increasingly taking the form of threats that no agreement will be good for the UK, and bad for the EU, need to be addressed. I want to be clear that a 'no deal scenario' would be bad for everyone, but above all for the UK, because it would leave a number of issues unresolved."

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

"I still have dreams. Politics without dreams – it would be a nightmare."

"No-one will ever tell me that Brexit is a good thing because as I have always said, in fact, Brexit is only about damage control."

"The EU will be able to rise to every scenario as long as we are not divided."

"If the UK government sticks to its decision to leave, Brexit will become a reality - with all its negative consequences - in March next year. Unless there is a change of heart among our British friends. Wasn't it David Davis himself who said 'if a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy'. We, here on the continent, haven't had a change of heart. Our hearts are still open to you."

"There can be no frictionless trade outside of the customs union and the single market. Friction is an inevitable side-effect of Brexit by nature."

"Brexit means drifting apart but we don't want to build a wall."

"It will make it more complicated and costly than today for all of us. This is the essence of Brexit."

"I may be from the east but I am not a beast."

"The UK's decision on Brexit has caused the problem and the UK will have to solve it. Without a solution there will be no withdrawal agreement and no transition."

"Europe should be grateful by President Trump, because thanks to him we have got rid of old illusions. He has made us realise that if you need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of your arm."

"If a deal is impossible, and no-one wants no deal, then who will finally have the courage to say what the only positive solution is?"

"[David Cameron told me] he felt really safe, because he thought at the same time that there’s no risk of a referendum, because his coalition partner, the Liberals, would block this idea of a referendum. But then, surprisingly, he won and there was no coalition partner. So paradoxically David Cameron became the real victim of his own victory."

"There is a special place in hell for those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan of how to carry it out safely."

"It means that until 12 April, anything is possible: a deal, a long extension if the United Kingdom decided to rethink its strategy, or revoking Article 50, which is a prerogative of the UK government. The fate of Brexit is in the hands of our British friends. As the EU, we are prepared for the worst, but hope for the best. As you know, hope dies last."

"The fate of Brexit is in the hands of our British friends. As the EU, we are prepared for the worst, but hope for the best. As you know, hope dies last."

"[I will] not co-operate on [a] no-deal."

"Tomorrow I meet PM Boris Johnson. I hope that he will not like to go down in history as “Mr. No Deal”."

"But if we restore the normal role of public television. Not that they say 'Tusk is a genius and Kaczyński is a Jew'. Just saying... Only that there would be normal public television again, people with different views, debates and so on."

"Bad politicians are elected by good citizens who stay at home."

"Now, all that matters is help for people threatened by flooding and state action. Those who can, let them help, those who can't, let them not hinder. Politics must give way to solidarity."

"The paradox is that 500 million Europeans are asking 300 million Americans to defend them against 140 million Russians. We must rely on ourselves, fully aware of our potential and with confidence that we are a global power."

"If we told our story even half as well as we actually governed, we would be winning election after election."

"I know the taste of victory, I know the bitterness of defeat, but I don't know the word surrender."

"More and more leads, more and more information, and more and more commentary in the global press all relate to the suspicion that this unprecedented paedophilia scandal was co-organised by Russian intelligence services. I don't need to tell you how serious the increasingly likely possibility that Russian intelligence services co-organised this operation is for the security of the Polish state. This can only mean that they also possess compromising materials against many leaders still active today."