--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People feel that European institutions…" description: "\"People feel that European institutions are remote and bureaucratic, run by shady cosmopolitan elites. Britain is not absolutely exceptional because if ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/timothy-garton-ash-15575_britain_people-feel-that-european-institutions-a_1328806.png" --- # People feel that European institutions are remote and… ![“People feel that European institutions are remote and bureaucratic, run by shady cosmopolitan elites. Britain is not absolutely exceptional because if you look at the opinion polls, those sentiments are now quite widespread also in continental Europe.” quote by Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/timothy-garton-ash-15575_britain_people-feel-that-european-institutions-a_1328806.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/timothy-garton-ash-15575_britain_people-feel-that-european-institutions-a_1328806.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/timothy-garton-ash-15575_britain_people-feel-that-european-institutions-a_1328806.png) > “People feel that European institutions are remote and bureaucratic, run by shady cosmopolitan elites. Britain is not absolutely exceptional because if you look at the opinion polls, those sentiments are now quite widespread also in continental Europe.” [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People view EU bodies as distant, bureaucratic, and controlled by elite cosmopolitans, a perception now common across Europe. **In simple terms:** EU seen as remote and elitist. Key Takeaway Recognize and address perceived elitism. Themes politics perception elitism EU public opinion Mood skeptical critical Type analysis commentary When to use this quote - policy debate - media analysis - public surveys - EU reform - citizen engagement Key Concepts bureaucracy elite control media framing national identity Questions to Reflect On - How do media narratives shape views of institutions? - What reforms could reduce perceived distance? A Different Perspective Perception may vary by country and demographic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [European](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/european/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Opinion polls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion-polls/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Polls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polls/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) ## Related quotes > [In politics continental Europe was infantile - horrifying. What America lacked, for all its political stability, was the capacity to enjoy intellectual pleasures as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/in-politics-continental-europe-was-infantile-horrifying-what-america/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Well, as a general remark, I would say that I was discouraged by the physical and economic conditions in continental Europe after the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-as-a-general-remark-i-would-say-that-i-was-discouraged-by-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel more European than Belgian. However I do think that my Flemish roots have an impact on my character and culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-demeulemeester/i-feel-more-european-than-belgian-however-i-do-think-that-my-flemish/) [Ann Demeulemeester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-demeulemeester/) > [I feel European.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-savoretti/i-feel-european/) [Jack Savoretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-savoretti/) > [“The only democracies left in continental Europe were the tiny neutral states of Sweden and Switzerland, both dependent on German goodwill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/the-only-democracies-left-in-continental-europe-were-the-tiny-neutral/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [I am sure 2017 will be the year the people of continental Europe wake up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/i-am-sure-2017-will-be-the-year-the-people-of-continental-europe-wake/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [I would go to the European institutions, I would demand for the French people four sovereignties: territorial - our borders; monetary and budgetary; economic;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/i-would-go-to-the-european-institutions-i-would-demand-for-the-french/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [I think we have to reflect on a treaty change that would permit more than surveillance, with recommendations and appropriate sanctions. When recommendations are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-trichet/i-think-we-have-to-reflect-on-a-treaty-change-that-would-permit-more/) Jean-Claude Trichet > [One of the reasons why many British voters chose to leave the European Union was because they distrusted European institutions. Of all the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/one-of-the-reasons-why-many-british-voters-chose-to-leave-the/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [In a global race, can we really justify the huge number of expensive peripheral European institutions? Can we justify a commission that gets ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/in-a-global-race-can-we-really-justify-the-huge-number-of-expensive/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [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/) > [The Eurozone has clearly gone spectacularly wrong, pulling down all the continental economies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/the-eurozone-has-clearly-gone-spectacularly-wrong-pulling-down-all/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [Leaders are responsible not for running public opinion polls but for the consequences of their actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/leaders-are-responsible-not-for-running-public-opinion-polls-but-for/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I'm often amazed at the way politicians, who spend hours poring over opinion poll results in a desperate attempt to discover what the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/i-m-often-amazed-at-the-way-politicians-who-spend-hours-poring-over/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [The possibility of my presidential candidacy emerged spontaneously in public opinion polls. For my part, I noticed people's affection when I was doing work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-bachelet/the-possibility-of-my-presidential-candidacy-emerged-spontaneously-in/) [Michelle Bachelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-bachelet/) ## More by Timothy Garton Ash > [I'm a historian by training and by conviction. And so the thing that has throughout informed my thinking about international relations is history. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/i-m-a-historian-by-training-and-by-conviction-and-so-the-thing-that/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [America should do a reverse Columbus. The world no longer needs to discover America; but America urgently needs to discover the world's view of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/america-should-do-a-reverse-columbus-the-world-no-longer-needs-to/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [Yet another thing Canadians and Europeans have in common is an obsession with the United States, and with distinguishing themselves from it, often by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/yet-another-thing-canadians-and-europeans-have-in-common-is-an/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [Ordinary Americans, and especially the small minority active in Democrat and Republican primaries, must learn more of what people across the globe are thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/ordinary-americans-and-especially-the-small-minority-active-in/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [No country in Europe has a larger proportion of men and women of immigrant descent, mainly from the African continent and mainly Muslim: an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/no-country-in-europe-has-a-larger-proportion-of-men-and-women-of/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [Well, that's the way democracy works. We have to build this Europe with the material we have at our disposal. And this material is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/well-that-s-the-way-democracy-works-we-have-to-build-this-europe-with/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [Europe is a woman, now middle-aged, who has already had a number of heart attacks and is currently experiencing the biggest health crisis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/europe-is-a-woman-now-middle-aged-who-has-already-had-a-number-of/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [The main problem with American power is not that it is American... No, the main problem with American power is the power itself. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/the-main-problem-with-american-power-is-not-that-it-is-american-no/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [What is the elephant in all our rooms? It is the global triumph of capitalism. Democracy is fiercely disputed. Freedom is under threat even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/what-is-the-elephant-in-all-our-rooms-it-is-the-global-triumph-of/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [Nuclear proliferation - the proliferation of WMDs altogether - is one of the greatest dangers of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/nuclear-proliferation-the-proliferation-of-wmds-altogether-is-one-of/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [I find Chinese debates about their political system domestically, but also about China's claims in the international system, to be among the most original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/i-find-chinese-debates-about-their-political-system-domestically-but/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [Every step that produces a single job for a currently unemployed European should be taken. Every centimetre of red tape that puts someone out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/every-step-that-produces-a-single-job-for-a-currently-unemployed/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [But transitions from the politics of violence to democratic compromise are always messy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/but-transitions-from-the-politics-of-violence-to-democratic/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [America is divided by a great argument about itself. Europe is divided by a great argument about America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/america-is-divided-by-a-great-argument-about-itself-europe-is-divided/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [The trouble is that privacy is at once essential to, and in tension with, both freedom and security. A cabinet minister who keeps his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/the-trouble-is-that-privacy-is-at-once-essential-to-and-in-tension/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) [Explore all 42 Timothy Garton Ash quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) ## 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": "People feel that European institutions are remote and bureaucratic, run by shady cosmopolitan elites. 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