68 Quotes by Frans Timmermans

Nationalism makes us poor because its Siamese twin, protectionism, will destroy the internal market and disrupt international trade.

If you look at European societies since the financial crisis began in 2008, with very, very few exceptions, the differences between rich and poor have increased, and sometimes hugely.

Nationalism makes us weak because its eternal seeking of enemies, its disdain of others, its need to feel superior makes cooperation with other nations to collectively guarantee our freedom and security much more difficult.

Respect for the rule of law is not optional; it's fundamental.

If nationalism makes us poor, weak, and morally insecure, how can it claim to be patriotic? I maintain that nationalists are unpatriotic.

Is wellbeing only economic growth? Only salaries? Or is wellbeing also being able to breathe clean air and drink clean water?

The European Union is not unbreakable; something that is breakable is extremely valuable.

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.

We need to be able to answer not yesterday's challenges but to tomorrow's challenges.