--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that Europe has to get its act…" description: "\"I think that Europe has to get its act together very quickly. The Belgian guy who's leading the negotiations against Brexit, he sees it as a whole chan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/irvine-welsh-843_belgians_i-think-that-europe-has-to-get-its-act-t_2220882.png" --- # I think that Europe has to get its act together very… ![“I think that Europe has to get its act together very quickly. The Belgian guy who's leading the negotiations against Brexit, he sees it as a whole chance to reboot Europe and reclaim the kind of social mission of Europe from all this corporate, bureaucratic, globalist stuff that has got into…” quote by Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/irvine-welsh-843_belgians_i-think-that-europe-has-to-get-its-act-t_2220882.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/irvine-welsh-843_belgians_i-think-that-europe-has-to-get-its-act-t_2220882.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/irvine-welsh-843_belgians_i-think-that-europe-has-to-get-its-act-t_2220882.png) > “I think that Europe has to get its act together very quickly. The Belgian guy who's leading the negotiations against Brexit, he sees it as a whole chance to reboot Europe and reclaim the kind of social mission of Europe from all this corporate, bureaucratic, globalist stuff that has got into, building Europe for the people rather than the banks, again.” [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Europe must rapidly reform to prioritize people over corporate and bureaucratic interests. **In simple terms:** Europe needs fast, people‑first reform. Key Takeaway Push for democratic, social reforms now. Themes politics reform social justice Mood concerned determined Type political analytical When to use this quote - national elections - EU negotiations - public advocacy - policy drafting Key Concepts European integration democratic renewal economic policy Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens influence EU reforms? - What obstacles hinder rapid policy shifts? A Different Perspective Complex EU structures may resist swift change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belgians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belgians/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Corporate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporate/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Missions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missions/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The Europe we are in the process of building is the Europe of the 21st century; it's not the Europe of the 20th century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/the-europe-we-are-in-the-process-of-building-is-the-europe-of-the/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [People my age and younger do think much more towards Europe. We have to fill the gap sometime - we can't think we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/people-my-age-and-younger-do-think-much-more-towards-europe-we-have/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I don't think America is a safe place for Americans, if you want to know the truth. I don't think Bruss - England or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-don-t-think-america-is-a-safe-place-for-americans-if-you-want-to/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [To be frank, it sometimes seems that the American idea of freedom has more to do with my freedom to do what I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/to-be-frank-it-sometimes-seems-that-the-american-idea-of-freedom-has/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I think in Europe, movies are made like a commodity and then sold as art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-waltz/i-think-in-europe-movies-are-made-like-a-commodity-and-then-sold-as/) [Christoph Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-waltz/) > [My parents don't think about Europe at all. The Continent is somewhere else. And they call it the Continent - to reflect, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/my-parents-don-t-think-about-europe-at-all-the-continent-is-somewhere/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I think Europe is well advised to form a unified economic force to be on par with the U.S. and China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-kaeser/i-think-europe-is-well-advised-to-form-a-unified-economic-force-to-be/) [Joe Kaeser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-kaeser/) > [I think all of Europe has been too soft on the refugee crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-t-flynn/i-think-all-of-europe-has-been-too-soft-on-the-refugee-crisis/) [Michael T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-t-flynn/) > [I remember passing through New York in college and thinking, 'I'm going to come back here.' The energy just made me think of Europe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-szostak/i-remember-passing-through-new-york-in-college-and-thinking-i-m-going/) [Stephanie Szostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-szostak/) > [I think Europe is going in the right direction and we shouldn't be set back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mandelson/i-think-europe-is-going-in-the-right-direction-and-we-shouldn-t-be/) [Peter Mandelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mandelson/) > [The more I see, hear, and think in Europe, the more I wish for every measure that can ensure to the United States dignity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/the-more-i-see-hear-and-think-in-europe-the-more-i-wish-for-every/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [I think sometimes Europe may take for granted the extraordinary progress that's been made over the last 40, 50 years. I recognize that sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-sometimes-europe-may-take-for-granted-the-extraordinary/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think Europe breaks people. If youre on a bad one, that place really makes it bad! A lot of people have lost it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-irons/i-think-europe-breaks-people-if-youre-on-a-bad-one-that-place-really/) [Andy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-irons/) > [I'll absolutely do safe zones in Syria for the people. I think that Europe has made a tremendous mistake by allowing these millions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-ll-absolutely-do-safe-zones-in-syria-for-the-people-i-think-that/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I think that U.K. together with Europe will be stronger, and I also think Europe with U.K. will be stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-dehaze/i-think-that-u-k-together-with-europe-will-be-stronger-and-i-also/) [Alain Dehaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-dehaze/) ## More by Irvine Welsh > [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“Without this kickstart to my day, I'd be lost. A day without a morning run is a day you fumble through, rather than one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/without-this-kickstart-to-my-day-i-d-be-lost-a-day-without-a-morning/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“There's nae reasoning wi some cats. You say 'reason', they mew 'treason'. Ken?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nae-reasoning-wi-some-cats-you-say-reason-they-mew-treason-ken/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [It's crazy for somebody who's kind of empowered and wealthy like myself to say, "Oh, I don't need to be patronized by the state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/it-s-crazy-for-somebody-who-s-kind-of-empowered-and-wealthy-like/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [When you go away, you see where you come from in a different light. I see Scotland, and the rest of Britain, as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/when-you-go-away-you-see-where-you-come-from-in-a-different-light-i/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If it's something that I feel uncomfortable with, that's a reason for me to write it. I kind of like to make myself feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-it-s-something-that-i-feel-uncomfortable-with-that-s-a-reason-for/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [There's nothing worse than a violent beating from an unremarkable person. Physical violence with someone is too much like shagging them. Too much id…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-violent-beating-from-an-unremarkable/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If I stop working and publishing, and TV, and film and all that, I would be dead within a couple of weeks. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-i-stop-working-and-publishing-and-tv-and-film-and-all-that-i-would/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I can see why the Russians love Robert Burns, I think that Russians and Koreans have a very similar outlook to Scots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-can-see-why-the-russians-love-robert-burns-i-think-that-russians/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If you continue to transfer the wealth of the population of the planet to a very small amount of people, it becomes untenable at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-you-continue-to-transfer-the-wealth-of-the-population-of-the/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [Most middle-class people I know don't really live like me. Middle-class people worry a lot about money. They worry a lot about job security,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/most-middle-class-people-i-know-don-t-really-live-like-me-middle/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [As soon as you've written it, you're thinking about how it can move into different mediums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/as-soon-as-you-ve-written-it-you-re-thinking-about-how-it-can-move/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“Begbie doesnae even notice; he's in his element, particularly good at funerals in the way a lot ay psychopaths tend tae be. Ah suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/begbie-doesnae-even-notice-he-s-in-his-element-particularly-good-at/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I'm more of a warrior than you'll ever be. I believe in the class war. I believe in the battle of the sexes. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-m-more-of-a-warrior-than-you-ll-ever-be-i-believe-in-the-class-war/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) [Explore all 348 Irvine Welsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) ## More Belgians quotes > [I believe that the Belgians do possess some surrealistic gene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-de-clercq/i-believe-that-the-belgians-do-possess-some-surrealistic-gene/) [Eddy de Clercq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-de-clercq/) > [Even before 2007, this half of a small island was the richest football country on earth. In 2005-2006 the Premiership's total revenue was about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/even-before-2007-this-half-of-a-small-island-was-the-richest-football/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [I was born in Belgium and moved to Amsterdam when I was 17. I am not a Calvinist Dutchman but a Catholic Belgian. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-de-clercq/i-was-born-in-belgium-and-moved-to-amsterdam-when-i-was-17-i-am-not-a/) [Eddy de Clercq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-de-clercq/) > [It’s a Belgian beer, sweetie. Please tell me you’ve at least heard of it. (Blaine) Boy, I was born in Brussels and the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/it-s-a-belgian-beer-sweetie-please-tell-me-you-ve-at-least-heard-of/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Happiness is German engineering, Italian cooking, and Belgian chocolate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/happiness-is-german-engineering-italian-cooking-and-belgian-chocolate/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [From Roger Bacon, the 13th century Franciscan who pioneered the scientific method, to George Lemaitre, the 20th century Belgian priest who first developed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/from-roger-bacon-the-13th-century-franciscan-who-pioneered-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [English wine is like Belgian rock or German disco: a waste of everyone's time and money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-rayner/english-wine-is-like-belgian-rock-or-german-disco-a-waste-of-everyone/) [Jay Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-rayner/) > [All Gaul is divided into three parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/all-gaul-is-divided-into-three-parts/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) > [I try to be aware of technology and Japanese animation and old Belgian paintings, and get all my references from bits of everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guido-palau/i-try-to-be-aware-of-technology-and-japanese-animation-and-old/) [Guido Palau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guido-palau/) > [In other words, the problem of empire-building is essentially mystical. It must somehow foster the impression that a man is great in the degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-morley/in-other-words-the-problem-of-empire-building-is-essentially-mystical/) [Felix Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-morley/) > [Consider the death of Princess Diana. This accident involved an English citizen, with an Egyptian boyfriend, crashed in a French tunnel, driving a German…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-riebling/consider-the-death-of-princess-diana-this-accident-involved-an/) Mark Riebling > [We once discussed which were the cleanest troops in the trenches, taken by nationalities. We agreed on a descending-order like this: English and German…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/we-once-discussed-which-were-the-cleanest-troops-in-the-trenches/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [I would like travelers, especially American travelers, to travel in a way that broadens their perspective...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/i-would-like-travelers-especially-american-travelers-to-travel-in-a/) [Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/) > [I'm just full of surprises." Watching her, he waved the wrapped bar from side to side. "You can have the candy if you sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-just-full-of-surprises-watching-her-he-waved-the-wrapped-bar-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The way to my heart is through Belgian milk chocolate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/the-way-to-my-heart-is-through-belgian-milk-chocolate/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) [Browse all 40 Belgians quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belgians/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that Europe has to get its act together very quickly. The Belgian guy who's leading the negotiations against Brexit, he sees it as a whole chance to reboot Europe and reclaim the kind of social mission of Europe from all this corporate, bureaucratic, globalist stuff that has got into, building Europe for the people rather than the banks, again.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Irvine Welsh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-think-that-europe-has-to-get-its-act-together-very-quickly-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belgians" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-think-that-europe-has-to-get-its-act-together-very-quickly-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/irvine-welsh-843_belgians_i-think-that-europe-has-to-get-its-act-t_2220882.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/irvine-welsh-843_belgians_i-think-that-europe-has-to-get-its-act-t_2220882.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/irvine-welsh-843_belgians_i-think-that-europe-has-to-get-its-act-t_2220882.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that Europe has to get its act together very quickly. The Belgian guy who's leading the negotiations…” — Irvine Welsh", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Irvine Welsh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that Europe has to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-think-that-europe-has-to-get-its-act-together-very-quickly-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-think-that-europe-has-to-get-its-act-together-very-quickly-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```