"I fully understand that South East Europe is focused to join the EU as soon as possible. I fully support this with my entire being. But I am asking my dear friends in the Balkans not only to think of their own country, which is understandable, but to join us in considering the future of Europe together. In the global context, Europe is a very small continent - similar to an Asian peninsula. The process of European integration gives us a huge chance to compensate for this lack of geographic size by economic, intellectual and spiritual power. All of this is a precondition for European politics. Europe is not a collection of different interests. Europe needs a common feeling. (...) A real global player has to excel in solidarity, in the common aims of humanity. There is a lot to be done and it cannot be achieved without leadership."