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

Donald Franciszek Tusk (born 22 April 1957) was Prime Minister of Poland from 2007 to 2014, having also been co-founder and former chairman of the Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska) party. He became President of the European Council on 1 December 2014.

Quotes

2011

  • 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.

2013

  • 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.
    • Speech during Platorma Obywatelska congress in Chorzów (29 June 2013)

2015

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

2016

  • 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.

2017

  • 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.

2018

  • 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.
  • 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.

2019

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

Quotes about Tusk

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