--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not more Europe or less Europe that…" description: "\"It is not more Europe or less Europe that we need. We need a better Europe.\" — Jean-Claude Juncker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/jean-claude-juncker-3277_europe_it-is-not-more-europe-or-less-europe-tha_728521.png" --- # It is not more Europe or less Europe that we need. We need… ![“It is not more Europe or less Europe that we need. We need a better Europe.” quote by Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/jean-claude-juncker-3277_europe_it-is-not-more-europe-or-less-europe-tha_728521.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/jean-claude-juncker-3277_europe_it-is-not-more-europe-or-less-europe-tha_728521.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/jean-claude-juncker-3277_europe_it-is-not-more-europe-or-less-europe-tha_728521.png) > “It is not more Europe or less Europe that we need. We need a better Europe.” [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates improving the quality of the EU rather than its size. **In simple terms:** We need a better, not bigger, Europe. Key Takeaway Focus on reforms over expansion. Themes politics policy European Union Mood optimistic thoughtful Type policy visionary When to use this quote - policy debates - EU negotiations - public opinion Key Concepts governance integration efficiency Questions to Reflect On - What reforms would make Europe better? - How can unity be strengthened without expansion? A Different Perspective Changing size alone won’t solve systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-europe-1204065/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Europe Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe-europe-821176/) [Europe Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe-need-503571/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Need Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-better/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) ## Related quotes > [When it comes to whether Britain should remain in the European Union, almost all political parties and traditions - Labour, the Greens, Liberal Democrats,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-benn/when-it-comes-to-whether-britain-should-remain-in-the-european-union/) [Hilary Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-benn/) > [I prefer to concentrate on my task of leading Europe to the success that our citizens expect. We have to look forwards now because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-prefer-to-concentrate-on-my-task-of-leading-europe-to-the-success/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [You look what's happening all over Europe - Europe is being absolutely swamped and destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-look-what-s-happening-all-over-europe-europe-is-being-absolutely/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [France is ready for a European revolution and it is Germany that is pulling the brakes. For a long time, it was the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/france-is-ready-for-a-european-revolution-and-it-is-germany-that-is/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [We believe that government in Britain should be working to restore our reputation on the international stage after Iraq and engage better within Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kennedy/we-believe-that-government-in-britain-should-be-working-to-restore/) [Charles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kennedy/) > [If we want to make Europe stronger, then each country first has to ensure that it becomes stronger itself. This applies to Italy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-schauble/if-we-want-to-make-europe-stronger-then-each-country-first-has-to/) [Wolfgang Schauble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-schauble/) > [We need economic growth in Europe and we need to find a solution for the excessive interest rates that are making it difficult for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-need-economic-growth-in-europe-and-we-need-to-find-a-solution-for/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [Germany is the biggest economy of Europe and we need Germany on board for the economic reforms of Europe, including, of course, the deepening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/germany-is-the-biggest-economy-of-europe-and-we-need-germany-on-board/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [In order to guarantee security in Europe, we need to strongly confront our defense policy in Europe. And we need a solution to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-kurz/in-order-to-guarantee-security-in-europe-we-need-to-strongly-confront/) [Sebastian Kurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-kurz/) > [China is incredibly important to the future of mankind. For me, this is something that we all need to have intelligent discussions about in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/china-is-incredibly-important-to-the-future-of-mankind-for-me-this-is/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [I am not, never have been, and never will be a politician. But I want to tell you the United States has always been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-am-not-never-have-been-and-never-will-be-a-politician-but-i-want-to/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [Whoever takes it upon himself to write an honest intellectual history of twentieth-century Europe will need a strong stomach. But he will need something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lilla/whoever-takes-it-upon-himself-to-write-an-honest-intellectual-history/) [Mark Lilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lilla/) > [The new narrative for Europe should be about the need to have a responsible organisation, the need to be able to defend our interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/the-new-narrative-for-europe-should-be-about-the-need-to-have-a/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [I can officially state that my government and myself believe that all over Europe we need to open a debate on the 'drug question'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/i-can-officially-state-that-my-government-and-myself-believe-that-all/) [George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/) > [We in Europe need to discuss how we can improve the community. That is the correct order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-schauble/we-in-europe-need-to-discuss-how-we-can-improve-the-community-that-is/) [Wolfgang Schauble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-schauble/) ## More by Jean-Claude Juncker > [ I don't think in national categories. For me it \[policy\] is about concepts and substance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-don-t-think-in-national-categories-for-me-it-policy-is-about/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [Germany will continue to play a central - perhaps even a more important - role in the European Union. I think that we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/germany-will-continue-to-play-a-central-perhaps-even-a-more-important/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [I am for it - not to make a threat, but to make clear that decisions that have been made are applicable law, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-am-for-it-not-to-make-a-threat-but-to-make-clear-that-decisions/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [With their charm and legendary sense of humor, the British directly or indirectly paved the way for a large number of European compromises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/with-their-charm-and-legendary-sense-of-humor-the-british-directly-or/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [I said in my inaugural address that I am not the Council's secretary, nor am I the Parliament's lackey. That can sometimes lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-said-in-my-inaugural-address-that-i-am-not-the-council-s-secretary/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [I have a plan. It entails leading to a fair deal and relationship with the British. We will be reasonable, but we will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-have-a-plan-it-entails-leading-to-a-fair-deal-and-relationship-with/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [I am in favor of the European institutions being led for the next two-and-a-half years as they have been thus far. We need stability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-am-in-favor-of-the-european-institutions-being-led-for-the-next-two/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [I was never presented with the details as far as the collective bargaining system is Greece. I am in favor of a normal system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-was-never-presented-with-the-details-as-far-as-the-collective/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [God understands more about the financial markets than many who write about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/god-understands-more-about-the-financial-markets-than-many-who-write/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [The outcome of the referendum does not affect those of my officials who have British nationality, since they work for Europe and not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/the-outcome-of-the-referendum-does-not-affect-those-of-my-officials/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [I assumed office to bring the EU to a point from which there is no going back. Instead, I am having to unwind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-assumed-office-to-bring-the-eu-to-a-point-from-which-there-is-no/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [I notice with a certain sense of regret that far too many Europeans are returning to a regional and national mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-notice-with-a-certain-sense-of-regret-that-far-too-many-europeans/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [ My father was a steel worker and Martin's \[Schulz\] grandfather was a miner in Saarland. In these occupations, there is a particular awareness of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/my-father-was-a-steel-worker-and-martin-s-schulz-grandfather-was-a/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [I completely agree with Helmut Kohl. I am not an advocate of the "United States of Europe," nor am I an integration fanatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-completely-agree-with-helmut-kohl-i-am-not-an-advocate-of-the/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [How will the exit affect thousands of British pensioners living in Portugal or Spain who will lose their access to the welfare and health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/how-will-the-exit-affect-thousands-of-british-pensioners-living-in/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) [Explore all 135 Jean-Claude Juncker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) ## More Europe quotes > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [Few political debates have been as divisive as the European one. I fought as hard as I could on the Remain side, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/few-political-debates-have-been-as-divisive-as-the-european-one-i/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [Perhaps our own opposition to even the level of European integration we have now, let alone any more, is well known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/perhaps-our-own-opposition-to-even-the-level-of-european-integration/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [Liberalism is the philosophy for our time, because it does not try to conserve every tradition of the past, because it does not apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/liberalism-is-the-philosophy-for-our-time-because-it-does-not-try-to/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“Conservatism aims to maintain in working order the loyalties of the community to perceived truths and also to those truths which in their judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr-2/conservatism-aims-to-maintain-in-working-order-the-loyalties-of-the/) [William F. Buckley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr-2/) > [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [Europe is creating the flight of refugees that's tearing it apart politically, and leading rightwing nationalist parties to gain power to withdraw from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/europe-is-creating-the-flight-of-refugees-that-s-tearing-it-apart/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [We witness anti-Semitic attacks in the heart of Europe. We hear anti-Semitic slanders in European media. We feel anti-Semitic hatred in the continent that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-shaked/we-witness-anti-semitic-attacks-in-the-heart-of-europe-we-hear-anti/) [Ayelet Shaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-shaked/) > [Conservatives are people who look at a tree and feel instinctively that it is more beautiful than anything they can name. But when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/conservatives-are-people-who-look-at-a-tree-and-feel-instinctively/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A man accustomed to American food and American domestic cookery would not starve to death suddenly in Europe, but I think he would gradually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-man-accustomed-to-american-food-and-american-domestic-cookery-would/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I became an MP in 2017 and have been around to watch Liberal Democrat party membership soar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/i-became-an-mp-in-2017-and-have-been-around-to-watch-liberal-democrat/) [Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/) [Browse all 7,565 Europe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not more Europe or less Europe that we need. We need a better Europe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean-Claude Juncker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/it-is-not-more-europe-or-less-europe-that-we-need-we-need-a-better/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Europe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/it-is-not-more-europe-or-less-europe-that-we-need-we-need-a-better/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/jean-claude-juncker-3277_europe_it-is-not-more-europe-or-less-europe-tha_728521.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/jean-claude-juncker-3277_europe_it-is-not-more-europe-or-less-europe-tha_728521.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/jean-claude-juncker-3277_europe_it-is-not-more-europe-or-less-europe-tha_728521.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not more Europe or less Europe that we need. We need a better Europe.” — Jean-Claude Juncker", "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": "Jean-Claude Juncker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is not more Europe or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/it-is-not-more-europe-or-less-europe-that-we-need-we-need-a-better/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/it-is-not-more-europe-or-less-europe-that-we-need-we-need-a-better/#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 } } ] } ```