--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When E.U. governments are able to agree…" description: "\"When E.U. governments are able to agree on political and economic policies, they will remain a superpower to influence the Americans, the Russians, Ind..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/kenneth-clarke-14375_britain_when-e-u-governments-are-able-to-agree-o_2539373.jpg" --- # When E.U. governments are able to agree on political and… ![“When E.U. governments are able to agree on political and economic policies, they will remain a superpower to influence the Americans, the Russians, Indians and Chinese over the coming decades. Britain on its own would resume the decline which continued through most of the 20th century.” quote by Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/kenneth-clarke-14375_britain_when-e-u-governments-are-able-to-agree-o_2539373.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/kenneth-clarke-14375_britain_when-e-u-governments-are-able-to-agree-o_2539373.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/kenneth-clarke-14375_britain_when-e-u-governments-are-able-to-agree-o_2539373.jpg) > “When E.U. governments are able to agree on political and economic policies, they will remain a superpower to influence the Americans, the Russians, Indians and Chinese over the coming decades. Britain on its own would resume the decline which continued through most of the 20th century.” [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If EU members align policies, they retain global influence; isolated Britain would continue its 20th‑century decline. **In simple terms:** United EU can stay powerful; Britain alone may keep declining. Key Takeaway Coordinate policies, avoid isolation. Themes politics geopolitics integration decline influence Mood cautious analytical optimistic Type statement analysis prediction When to use this quote - foreign policy meetings - economic summits - national elections - strategic planning Key Concepts European Union global power national sovereignty Questions to Reflect On - How can the UK balance sovereignty with EU cooperation? - What mechanisms ensure consistent EU policy? A Different Perspective Coordinating diverse nations is difficult; domestic politics may resist EU alignment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [Coming Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming-decades-719909/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Influence Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence-americans-1418596/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Remain Superpower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remain-superpower-1418595/) [Resume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resume/) [Superpower Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superpower-influence-1418597/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [It would be very interesting to make a survey around the world, from wealthy countries to the most advanced countries to see what influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilio-pucci/it-would-be-very-interesting-to-make-a-survey-around-the-world-from/) [Emilio Pucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilio-pucci/) > [The United States is a superpower whose influence reaches across oceans and beyond borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-olmert/the-united-states-is-a-superpower-whose-influence-reaches-across/) [Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-olmert/) > [One can understand the politics of that at this moment. It's an effort to buy time for a constituency of workers who have really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-woodruff/one-can-understand-the-politics-of-that-at-this-moment-it-s-an-effort/) [Judy Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-woodruff/) > [“So in both the West and the emerging world the state is in trouble. The mystery is why so many people assume that radical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-micklethwait/so-in-both-the-west-and-the-emerging-world-the-state-is-in-trouble/) [John Micklethwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-micklethwait/) > [Because of the inherent time lag in the climate system, the greenhouse gases that have already been pumped into the atmosphere will undoubtedly lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-von-storch/because-of-the-inherent-time-lag-in-the-climate-system-the-greenhouse/) [Hans von Storch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-von-storch/) > [The largest source of greenhouse gases in the coming decades will not be the US, Western Europe and Japan, but the developing economies of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-gelbspan/the-largest-source-of-greenhouse-gases-in-the-coming-decades-will-not/) [Ross Gelbspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-gelbspan/) > [In the coming decades, questions of identity, meaning cultural heritage, language, and religion will play a central role in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-p-huntington/in-the-coming-decades-questions-of-identity-meaning-cultural-heritage/) [Samuel P. Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-p-huntington/) > [“I expect to see the coming decades transform the planet into an art form; the new man, linked in a cosmic harmony that transcends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/i-expect-to-see-the-coming-decades-transform-the-planet-into-an-art-2/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [I expect to see the coming decades transform the planet into an art form; the new man, linked in a cosmic harmony that transcends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/i-expect-to-see-the-coming-decades-transform-the-planet-into-an-art/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Time travel and teleportation will have to wait. It may take centuries to master these technology. But within the coming decades, we will understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/time-travel-and-teleportation-will-have-to-wait-it-may-take-centuries/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [The question really is what will be the central focus of global politics in the coming decades and my argument is that cultural identities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-p-huntington/the-question-really-is-what-will-be-the-central-focus-of-global/) [Samuel P. Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-p-huntington/) > [“By any numerical measure, humanity is becoming rapidly less poor. But between half and two-thirds of people in the West have been treading water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-luce/by-any-numerical-measure-humanity-is-becoming-rapidly-less-poor-but/) [Edward Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-luce/) > [Our resources will diminish in the coming decades at a time when hunger for energy grows dramatically in China and other parts of Asia.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-e-ott/our-resources-will-diminish-in-the-coming-decades-at-a-time-when/) [Hermann E. Ott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-e-ott/) > [We are slowly isolating the genes involved with the aging process. We do not have the fountain of youth, but I think, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/we-are-slowly-isolating-the-genes-involved-with-the-aging-process-we/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [Britain's political voice depends on our role as a leading and influential member of the E.U. If we leave, we are of less value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/britain-s-political-voice-depends-on-our-role-as-a-leading-and/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) ## More by Kenneth Clarke > [Thatcher was the best politician I have ever witnessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/thatcher-was-the-best-politician-i-have-ever-witnessed/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [I am sorry to upset my colleagues by saying we wasted four years in opposition, but if you do get so badly defeated as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/i-am-sorry-to-upset-my-colleagues-by-saying-we-wasted-four-years-in/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [All political careers are a rollercoaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/all-political-careers-are-a-rollercoaster/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [Britain's political voice depends on our role as a leading and influential member of the E.U. If we leave, we are of less value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/britain-s-political-voice-depends-on-our-role-as-a-leading-and/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [Jonathan Hill is an old friend of mine; I have worked with him for many years and know him to be a man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/jonathan-hill-is-an-old-friend-of-mine-i-have-worked-with-him-for/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [I look forward to the day when the Westminster Parliament is just a council chamber in Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/i-look-forward-to-the-day-when-the-westminster-parliament-is-just-a/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [I don't think at my age... you can start ruling people out in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/i-don-t-think-at-my-age-you-can-start-ruling-people-out-in-politics/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [I'm notorious for only using my mobile phone for outgoing calls: nobody knows my London number and I certainly don't do anything online.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/i-m-notorious-for-only-using-my-mobile-phone-for-outgoing-calls/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [No country anywhere in the world allows material that genuinely puts national security at risk into the public domain, and that includes a courtroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/no-country-anywhere-in-the-world-allows-material-that-genuinely-puts/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [In these home affairs things I think occasionally it's the duty of politicians on both sides to turn round to the tabloids and right-wing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/in-these-home-affairs-things-i-think-occasionally-it-s-the-duty-of/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [My entire political career has been based on building up Britain's political standing and economic prosperity through our membership of the E.U. and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/my-entire-political-career-has-been-based-on-building-up-britain-s/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [Of course I'd have loved to be Prime Minister. But I'm not nursing a grievance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/of-course-i-d-have-loved-to-be-prime-minister-but-i-m-not-nursing-a/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [I am getting frustrated by the fact that we have been out of office for eight years. I desperately want to lead the Conservative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/i-am-getting-frustrated-by-the-fact-that-we-have-been-out-of-office/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [Referendums are designed to get round parliamentary government, and people only demand referendums when they think they can't get a majority in parliament. Mussolini…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/referendums-are-designed-to-get-round-parliamentary-government-and/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [I am a firm believer in open justice, and an opponent of closed justice in any normal circumstances. But I am also an opponent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/i-am-a-firm-believer-in-open-justice-and-an-opponent-of-closed/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) [Explore all 47 Kenneth Clarke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) ## More Britain quotes > [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/) > [In Britain, the press want to kill a show by revealing what's coming up and spoiling the pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-bonneville/in-britain-the-press-want-to-kill-a-show-by-revealing-what-s-coming/) [Hugh Bonneville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-bonneville/) > [If we don't like modern Britain, then it is very unlikely that modern Britain will like us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/if-we-don-t-like-modern-britain-then-it-is-very-unlikely-that-modern/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [It is time Britain put its trust back into the Labour Party. I believe I am the candidate that can make this happen precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/it-is-time-britain-put-its-trust-back-into-the-labour-party-i-believe/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [Britain has the IRA and no one cancels concerts there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-osbourne/britain-has-the-ira-and-no-one-cancels-concerts-there/) [Sharon Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-osbourne/) > [The establishment in Britain is certainly against the arts and against education. If something doesn't make a profit, it's invalid, and art doesn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/the-establishment-in-britain-is-certainly-against-the-arts-and/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [We from every religion feel comfortable in Britain because there is a host. The Church of England is a good host, it has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/we-from-every-religion-feel-comfortable-in-britain-because-there-is-a/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [I think the first person to call me 'Britain's Obama' was Martin Bright at the New Statesman. Harriet Harman made the comparison once at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuka-umunna/i-think-the-first-person-to-call-me-britain-s-obama-was-martin-bright/) [Chuka Umunna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuka-umunna/) > [I am the last of Britain's stately homos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/i-am-the-last-of-britain-s-stately-homos/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [ As for whether what happened in Britain improves\[Donald\] Trump's chances of winning, I don't think so. He has the same chances; we may just… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-michael-cillizza/as-for-whether-what-happened-in-britain-improves-donald-trump-s/) [Christopher Michael Cillizza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-michael-cillizza/) > [Britain, like other European states, is not and never will again be in the top-world-power league, so its male leaders can afford to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/britain-like-other-european-states-is-not-and-never-will-again-be-in/) [Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/) > [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/) > [It was very hard breaking into the film industry in Britain. I had been to art school, and I was painting and doing commercials.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-scott/it-was-very-hard-breaking-into-the-film-industry-in-britain-i-had/) [Tony Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-scott/) > [Germany has always stood for an E.U. of the 27 countries. But in light of Britain's continued resistance to further integration steps, as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-schauble/germany-has-always-stood-for-an-e-u-of-the-27-countries-but-in-light/) [Wolfgang Schauble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-schauble/) [Browse all 1,648 Britain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When E.U. governments are able to agree on political and economic policies, they will remain a superpower to influence the Americans, the Russians, Indians and Chinese over the coming decades. 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