--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that we must come together…" description: "\"I think that we must come together progressively, with the British, the Germans, the Spanish, the Italians and with the new members of the European Uni..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/jean-pierre-raffarin-21601_british_i-think-that-we-must-come-together-progr_2713817.jpg" --- # I think that we must come together progressively, with the… ![“I think that we must come together progressively, with the British, the Germans, the Spanish, the Italians and with the new members of the European Union, we must make an effort to forge closer links.” quote by Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/jean-pierre-raffarin-21601_british_i-think-that-we-must-come-together-progr_2713817.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/jean-pierre-raffarin-21601_british_i-think-that-we-must-come-together-progr_2713817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/jean-pierre-raffarin-21601_british_i-think-that-we-must-come-together-progr_2713817.jpg) > “I think that we must come together progressively, with the British, the Germans, the Spanish, the Italians and with the new members of the European Union, we must make an effort to forge closer links.” [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An appeal for deeper integration among EU members, urging collaborative effort to strengthen political and economic ties. **In simple terms:** Promote EU unity and cooperation. Key Takeaway Work together for stronger Europe. Themes European integration multilateralism political cooperation regional stability policy coordination Mood strategic optimistic formal Type political policy diplomatic When to use this quote - EU enlargement - policy negotiations - cross‑border projects Key Concepts Sovereignty collective identity institutionalism Questions to Reflect On - What benefits outweigh sovereignty concerns? - How can diverse cultures find common ground? A Different Perspective National interests may resist deeper integration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [European](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/european/) [European union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/european-union/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) ## Related quotes > [Austria can only be strong if we are not just members of the European Union but also actively help to strengthen the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-kurz/austria-can-only-be-strong-if-we-are-not-just-members-of-the-european/) [Sebastian Kurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-kurz/) > [There have been major disagreements within the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/there-have-been-major-disagreements-within-the-european-union/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [We believe that the European Union is facing a truly historic choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/we-believe-that-the-european-union-is-facing-a-truly-historic-choice/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [While we're members of the European Union, we don't have an immigration policy. We can't have an immigration policy. It's a charade for people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/while-we-re-members-of-the-european-union-we-don-t-have-an/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [The purpose of the European Union expansion is to bring stability to the East, and ultimately, that stability will come to Russia. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/the-purpose-of-the-european-union-expansion-is-to-bring-stability-to/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [I remain committed to a balanced policy, which will protect our national interests both on our eastern border - I mean with Russia -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-yanukovych/i-remain-committed-to-a-balanced-policy-which-will-protect-our/) [Viktor Yanukovych](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-yanukovych/) > [We need to put Italian interests before those of the European Union, or at least at the same level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-salvini/we-need-to-put-italian-interests-before-those-of-the-european-union/) [Matteo Salvini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-salvini/) > [We want the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/we-want-the-united-kingdom-to-remain-in-the-european-union/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [The Conservatives are a confusing lot. They first denied climate change was a serious issue and then suggested strengthening the nuclear industry as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/the-conservatives-are-a-confusing-lot-they-first-denied-climate/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [The Czech Republic, severed from its old Slovak half, sits in apparent landlocked contentment, inside the European Union but outside the troubled Euro Zone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/the-czech-republic-severed-from-its-old-slovak-half-sits-in-apparent/) [Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/) > [The European Union is the world's most successful invention for advancing peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/the-european-union-is-the-world-s-most-successful-invention-for/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [I don't want to leave euro or leave the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-salvini/i-don-t-want-to-leave-euro-or-leave-the-european-union/) [Matteo Salvini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-salvini/) > [But effective regulation at the European Union level can make a massive contribution to achieving our shared goals of improving competitiveness, jobs and growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hutton/but-effective-regulation-at-the-european-union-level-can-make-a/) [John Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hutton/) > [For the European Union, Russia is as important politically and economically as China is to the U.S.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-krastev/for-the-european-union-russia-is-as-important-politically-and/) [Ivan Krastev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-krastev/) > [The European Union is effectively a union dominated by the German political and economic elite. Its main function is to serve as a nucleus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/the-european-union-is-effectively-a-union-dominated-by-the-german/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) ## More by Jean-Pierre Raffarin > [We have come a long way in terms of foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/we-have-come-a-long-way-in-terms-of-foreign-policy/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [There have been major disagreements within the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/there-have-been-major-disagreements-within-the-european-union/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [We shall say clearly that any symbol conspicuously displaying religious affiliation in school is prohibited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/we-shall-say-clearly-that-any-symbol-conspicuously-displaying/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [The United States, for a French citizen, is a friend, an ally, to whom we owe, along with most Europeans, our freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/the-united-states-for-a-french-citizen-is-a-friend-an-ally-to-whom-we/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [But the Republic has its rules and it must not tolerate any abuse of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/but-the-republic-has-its-rules-and-it-must-not-tolerate-any-abuse-of/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [The Republic is open and tolerant but also knows how and when to be firm and make its values respected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/the-republic-is-open-and-tolerant-but-also-knows-how-and-when-to-be/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [When I see the cultural diversity that exists today, I feel that we must defend it, and we need Europe, because otherwise we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/when-i-see-the-cultural-diversity-that-exists-today-i-feel-that-we/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [It's important to show that, while authorizing the demonstrations and promoting diversity of opinion, the Republic can't allow itself to be undermined from within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/it-s-important-to-show-that-while-authorizing-the-demonstrations-and/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [We would like UN resolutions to be enforced, including on Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/we-would-like-un-resolutions-to-be-enforced-including-on-iraq/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [It's a different outlook, and one that I understand. When you are a former member of the Warsaw Pact, when you have lived behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/it-s-a-different-outlook-and-one-that-i-understand-when-you-are-a/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [I am a believer, but I affirm that in public buildings the law of the Republic overrides religious rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/i-am-a-believer-but-i-affirm-that-in-public-buildings-the-law-of-the/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [What's very important is that we build a space that matters in the world, one that operates according to democratic rules, and that small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/what-s-very-important-is-that-we-build-a-space-that-matters-in-the/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [I believe that transatlantic relations are very important and that President Bush's visit to Brussels, in a few days, will have a major impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/i-believe-that-transatlantic-relations-are-very-important-and-that/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [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/) > [We believe that the European Union is facing a truly historic choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/we-believe-that-the-european-union-is-facing-a-truly-historic-choice/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) [Explore all 29 Jean-Pierre Raffarin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) ## More British quotes > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. The old Soviet Union turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/while-we-like-to-think-queueing-is-unique-to-british-culture-the/) [Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) [Browse all 3,149 British quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that we must come together progressively, with the British, the Germans, the Spanish, the Italians and with the new members of the European Union, we must make an effort to forge closer links.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean-Pierre Raffarin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/i-think-that-we-must-come-together-progressively-with-the-british-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "British" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/i-think-that-we-must-come-together-progressively-with-the-british-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/jean-pierre-raffarin-21601_british_i-think-that-we-must-come-together-progr_2713817.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/jean-pierre-raffarin-21601_british_i-think-that-we-must-come-together-progr_2713817.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/jean-pierre-raffarin-21601_british_i-think-that-we-must-come-together-progr_2713817.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that we must come together progressively, with the British, the Germans, the Spanish, the Italians…” — Jean-Pierre Raffarin", "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-Pierre Raffarin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that we must come...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/i-think-that-we-must-come-together-progressively-with-the-british-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/i-think-that-we-must-come-together-progressively-with-the-british-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 } } ] } ```