The unions still have a job to do, representing their members' interests to governments and parliaments. And I think collective agreements still have a role, alongside markets and laws. Jacques Delors More Quotes by Jacques Delors More Quotes From Jacques Delors ...within ten years 80% of our economic legislation, perhaps even fiscal and social as well' would come from the EU. Jacques Delors economicsocialyears We will have to create an avant-garde.... We could have a Union for the enlarged Europe, and a Federation for the avant-garde. Jacques Delors avant-gardeunionseurope The European model is in danger if we obliterate the principle of personal responsibility. Jacques Delors principlesresponsibilityeurope My objective is that before the end of the millennium Europe should have a true federation. The Commission should become a political executive which can define essential common interests... responsible before the European Parliament and before the nation-states represented how you will, by the European Council or by a second chamber of national parliaments. Jacques Delors politicalshould-haveeurope The European model is, first, a social and economic system founded on the role of the market, for no computer in the world can process information better than the market. Jacques Delors roleseuropefirsts The unions may continue to decline, but if they do, it'll be their fault. Jacques Delors unionsaggravationmay This weakening is worsened by the widening distance between the governed and their governments. Jacques Delors distancegovernmentlong The problem of how we finance the welfare state should not obscure a separate issue: if each person thinks he has an inalienable right to welfare, no matter what happens to the world, that's not equity, it's just creating a society where you can't ask anything of people. Jacques Delors creatingissuesthinking I cannot resign myself to the decline of Europe, and of France. Jacques Delors aggravationfranceeurope For me, socialism has always been about liberty and solidarity, but also about responsibility. Jacques Delors eugenicslibertyresponsibility The driving force behind the liberal counter-offensive in Europe has been a reaction against irresponsibility. Jacques Delors offensivedrivingeurope Therefore one should speak at the same time of national citizenship and wider European citizenship. Jacques Delors citizenshipspeakeurope My problem is how to find the best way of being useful. Jacques Delors best-wayproblemway We have to struggle against the conservatives from all sides, not only the right-wingers, but also the left-wing conservatives who don't want to change anything. Jacques Delors strugglewantwings Cinema explains American society. It's like a Western, with good guys and bad guys, where the weak don't have a place. Jacques Delors cinemaguyweak The problem with a purely collective system is not only that it requires economic growth, and the right sort of demographic trends, but that it prevents people thinking about their futures in a responsible way. Jacques Delors growthpeoplethinking Even in Britain, the trade unions tell me that employment contracts have less protection than in the past. Jacques Delors employmentunionspast I would not be opposed to devising a new system of pensions, in which one part was based on collective provision, but which also gave incentives for people to take out an additional, personal plan. Jacques Delors incentivesprovisionpeople My presidential victory, if it had happened, would have been artificial in relation to the Socialist party. It may be that on my deathbed, I will come to regret my decision, but for the moment, I live at peace with it. Jacques Delors presidentialregretparty Yes, the European model remains superior to that of America and Japan. Jacques Delors japaneuropeamerica
