Donald Tusk quotes

Donald Tusk is a Polish politician who has played a prominent role in both national and European politics. As Prime Minister of Poland and later President of the European Council, he significantly influenced political developments across Europe. He continues to be an important figure in European affairs and Polish public life. Here are 33 of his quotes:

I'm incapable of getting angry with Angela Merkel. (Donald Tusk)
My Kashubian family, like the Jews, are people who were born and live in border areas and were suspected by the Nazis and by the Communists of being disloyal. View quote
Donald Tusk
Poland is not a very large country, but it's also not a small country. View quote
Donald Tusk
I can confirm that Poland will join the euro zone, and not just because all the treaties are signed, but because I consider it of strategic interest both for Poland and the European Union. But only a fool would believe that the euro could provide a guarantee that a financial crisis would never happen again. View quote
Donald Tusk
We want to understand democracy as an endless discussion, or a constant debate when we choose a path. (...) But when the consensus comes, (...) we work as one body. View quote
Donald Tusk
Europe should be grateful by President Trump, because thanks to him we have got rid of old illusions. He has made us realise that if you need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of your arm. View quote
Donald Tusk
Europe is not old, haggard or barren. Europe is young, dynamic and vital. Our continent remains the best place in the world to live. View quote
Donald Tusk
It means that until 12 April, anything is possible: a deal, a long extension if the United Kingdom decided to rethink its strategy, or revoking Article 50, which is a prerogative of the UK government. The fate of Brexit is in the hands of our British friends. As the EU, we are prepared for the worst, but hope for the best. As you know, hope dies last. View quote
Donald Tusk
It will make it more complicated and costly than today for all of us. This is the essence of Brexit. View quote
Donald Tusk
There can be no frictionless trade outside of the customs union and the single market. Friction is an inevitable side-effect of Brexit by nature. View quote
Donald Tusk
The EU will be able to rise to every scenario as long as we are not divided. (Donald Tusk)
No-one will ever tell me that Brexit is a good thing because as I have always said, in fact, Brexit is only about damage control. View quote
Donald Tusk
I still have dreams. Politics without dreams - it would be a nightmare. View quote
Donald Tusk
[I will] not co-operate on [a] no-deal. View quote
Donald Tusk
I may be from the east but I am not a beast. View quote
Donald Tusk
Brexit means drifting apart but we don't want to build a wall. View quote
Donald Tusk
I spent an important part of my life participating in conflicts. But for me, conflict was not the main principle. View quote
Donald Tusk
I got into politics a little bit by chance, as a person from the first generation of the Solidarity movement. View quote
Donald Tusk
Poles must understand history but we must also overcome it if it is obstructing our contemporary goals. View quote
Donald Tusk
Poland is quite a mediocre country in some regards. The only natural resource that we have, and with which we can compete, is freedom. View quote
Donald Tusk
I will be engaging myself personally, as the head of the Polish government, in the optimization of conditions for the exploration, research, logistics and the business related to the production of shale gas. (Donald Tusk)
My government is in no sense anti-Russian. View quote
Donald Tusk
For Poland, the United States is the most important ally. View quote
Donald Tusk
If there's one country that can be trusted to understand the complexity of history, it's Israel. View quote
Donald Tusk
My family history, like that of many Polish, German and Jewish families from Central Europe in the 20th century, is complex. View quote
Donald Tusk