As politicians we have to react to the fact that many people do not feel that they can relate to the EU.

Thus, the focus on this main political goal must become more visible in EU politics and to achieve this, we need a political impulse. It must be clear what the priorities on the agenda are.

We believe that we are going into the final phase of this election campaign in an excellent position. We feel well-equipped.

It is a fact that, if I single out Germany, our rate of growth is too low and we have very high unemployment.

The people in East Germany have lived through so many changes in the last 15 years like never before in the country, and they did this often with great enthusiasm. But in the West we also have a high degree of transformations.

I feel sorry sometimes for these sportsmen and women who put in just as much effort as the footballers. For example, athletes train at least as hard as footballers but have to be happy if they can earn enough to finance a decent education.