Margaret Thatcher Politician “Europe is... a monument to the vanity of individuals, a programme whose inevitable destiny is failure.” Destiny Europe Vanity ♥ 3
Margaret Thatcher Politician “(I)t is highly questionable whether when 'Europe speaks with one voice', as we are so often told it is doing, anyone is really listening. Europe's reputation as a serious player in international affairs is unenviable. It is a feeble giant who desperate attempts to be taken seriously are largely risible. It has a weak currency and a sluggish inflexible economy, still much reliant on hidden protectionism. It has a shrinking, ageing, population and, with the exception of Britain, rather unimpressive armed forces and, not excepting Britain, muddled diplomacy.” Taken Player Europe ♥ 3
Margaret Thatcher Politician “The United States is contributing massively to the defence of Europe and we should be very grateful.” Europe United States Grateful ♥ 3
Margaret Thatcher Politician “Yes, the Commission wants to increase its powers, Yes, it is a non-elected body and I do not want the Commission to increase its powers at the expense of the House, so of course we differ. The President of the Commission, Mr Delors, said at a press conference the other day that he wanted the European Parliament to be the democratic body of the Community. He wanted the Commission to be the Executive and he wanted the Council of Ministers to be the Senate. No! No! No!” House Community Europe ♥ 3
Margaret Thatcher Politician “I can cope with nine of them, so they ought to be able to stand one of me. They could end the tiresomeness and stubbornness by giving me what I want.” Want Giving Europe ♥ 3
Margaret Thatcher Politician “I was turned out because I said to Europe no, no, no. That no, no , no has now turned into yes, yes. Two yes's not three because he got the Social Chapter out and he's reserved his position on the single currency.” Two Three Europe ♥ 3
Margaret Thatcher Politician “Any attempts by any government to change Community legislation to its own wishes are doomed to failure following the extension of policy areas now subject to majority voting... In our opinion, this must have serious implications for the traditional view of Parliament as a legislative body sovereignty.” Government Views Europe ♥ 3
Margaret Thatcher Politician “I must be absolutely clear about this. Britain cannot accept the present situation on the Budget. It is demonstrably unjust. It is politically indefensible: I cannot play Sister Bountiful to the Community while my own electorate are being asked to forego improvements in the fields of health, education, welfare and the rest.” Play Europe Health Education ♥ 3
Margaret Thatcher Politician “My first guiding principle is this: willing and active co-operation between independent sovereign states. Europe will be stronger precisely because it has France as France, Spain as Spain, Britain as Britain, each with its own customs, traditions and identity. It would be folly to try to fit them into some sort of identikit European personality.” Independent Europe Guiding Principles ♥ 3
Margaret Thatcher Politician “A democratic Europe of nation states could be a force for liberty, enterprise and open trade. But, if creating a United States of Europe overrides these goals, the new Europe will be one of subsidy and protection” Goal Europe Creating ♥ 3
Margaret Thatcher Politician “Whether it is in the United States or in mainland Europe, written constitutions have one great weakness. That is that they contain the potential to have judges take decisions which should properly be made by democratically elected politicians.” Decision Judging Europe ♥ 3
Margaret Thatcher Politician “I have the money and they won't get their hands on it.” Hands Europe Britain ♥ 3
