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.

Donald Franciszek Tusk (born 22 April 1957) is a Polish politician who was President of the European Council from 2014 to 2019. He served as the 14th prime minister of Poland from 2007 to 2014 and was a co-founder and chairman of the Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska) political party. On 20 November 2019, Tusk was elected as the president of the European People's Party (EPP), Europe's largest transnational political party.

Quotes

2011

• 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.
  • Interview with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk spiegel.de (28th April 2011)

• I'm incapable of getting angry with Angela Merkel.
  • Interview with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk spiegel.de (28th April 2011)

2013

• 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.
  • Speech during Platorma Obywatelska congress in Chorzów (29 June 2013)

2015

• Europe is not old, haggard or barren. Europe is young, dynamic and vital. Our continent remains the best place in the world to live.
  • Speech to the European Parliament (13 January 2015)

2016

• To defend [my vision of Europe] does not mean to lecture anyone. The British citizens will make this decision themselves and they do not need any whisperers, especially from Brussels. I understand this very well. But when I hear the EU being compared to the plans and projects of Adolf Hitler I cannot remain silent. Such absurd arguments should be completely ignored if they hadn't been formulated by one of the most influential politicians of the ruling party.
  • Donald Tusk: Brexit will bring 'chaos' BBC News (17 May 2016)

• As a historian I fear Brexit could be the beginning of the destruction of not only the EU but also Western political civilisation in its entirety.
  • Donald Tusk: Brexit could destroy Western political civilisation BBC News (13 June 2016)

• Every family knows that a divorce is traumatic for everyone. Everyone in the EU, but especially the Brits themselves, would lose out economically [if Britain left the EU].
  • Donald Tusk: Brexit could destroy Western political civilisation BBC News (13 June 2016)

2017

• The claims, increasingly taking the form of threats that no agreement will be good for the UK, and bad for the EU, need to be addressed. I want to be clear that a 'no deal scenario' would be bad for everyone, but above all for the UK, because it would leave a number of issues unresolved.
  • Brexit: Donald Tusk warns UK against 'no deal threat' BBC News (15 March 2017)

• You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
  • Brexit: 'Dreamer' Tusk says UK may yet stay in the EU BBC News (22 June 2017)

• I still have dreams. Politics without dreams – it would be a nightmare.
  • Brexit: 'Dreamer' Tusk says UK may yet stay in the EU BBC News (22 June 2017)

• 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.
  • Brexit: Donald Tusk says not enough progress in talks BBC News (26 September 2017)

• The EU will be able to rise to every scenario as long as we are not divided.
  • Donald Tusk: EU must stay united or face Brexit 'defeat' BBC News (24 October 2017)

• EU27 is not working on 'no-deal' scenario.
  • EU preparing for no deal Brexit, says Michel Barnier's adviser BBC News (26 October 2017)

2018

• If the UK government sticks to its decision to leave, Brexit will become a reality - with all its negative consequences - in March next year. Unless there is a change of heart among our British friends. Wasn't it David Davis himself who said 'if a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy'. We, here on the continent, haven't had a change of heart. Our hearts are still open to you.
  • Donald Tusk: EU's 'heart still open to UK' over Brexit BBC News (16 January 2018)

• 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.
  • Donald Tusk asks UK for 'better' Northern Ireland idea BBC News (1 March 2018)

• Brexit means drifting apart but we don't want to build a wall.
  • Brexit means drifting apart but we don't want to build a wall - Tusk BBC News (7 March 2018)

• It will make it more complicated and costly than today for all of us. This is the essence of Brexit.
  • Brexit means drifting apart but we don't want to build a wall - Tusk BBC News (7 March 2018)

• I may be from the east but I am not a beast.
  • 'Ireland first,' says Tusk after Varadkar meeting BBC News (8 March 2018)

• The UK's decision on Brexit has caused the problem and the UK will have to solve it. Without a solution there will be no withdrawal agreement and no transition.
  • Donald Tusk says no Brexit deal until border resolved BBC News (18 April 2018)

• 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.
  • 'Capricious': Donald Tusk condemns Trump administration , The Guardian, (16th May 2018)

2019

• If a deal is impossible, and no-one wants no deal, then who will finally have the courage to say what the only positive solution is?
  • Brexit vote: Donald Tusk hints UK should stay in EU BBC News (16 January 2019)

• [David Cameron told me] he felt really safe, because he thought at the same time that there’s no risk of a referendum, because his coalition partner, the Liberals, would block this idea of a referendum. But then, surprisingly, he won and there was no coalition partner. So paradoxically David Cameron became the real victim of his own victory.
  • Cameron did not think EU referendum would happen, says Tusk, The Guardian, (21st Jan 2019)

• There is a special place in hell for those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan of how to carry it out safely.
  • Donald Tusk: Special place in hell for Brexiteers without a plan BBC News (6 February 2019)

• 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.
  • Brexit's fate 'is in British hands', says Donald Tusk BBC News (22 March 2019)

• 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.
  • Brexit: Vote on Theresa May's deal may not happen next week BBC News (23 March 2019)

• [I will] not co-operate on [a] no-deal.
  • Brexit: Donald Tusk and Boris Johnson clash over who is 'Mr No Deal' BBC News (24 August 2019)

• Tomorrow I meet PM Boris Johnson. I hope that he will not like to go down in history as “Mr. No Deal”.
  • Tweeted on 24 August 2019

2022

• But if we restore the normal role of public television. Not that they say 'Tusk is a genius and Kaczyński is a Jew'. Just saying... Only that there would be normal public television again, people with different views, debates and so on.
  • During a meeting with voters in Sępólno Krajeńskie on 10 November 2022[1]

2024

• Bad politicians are elected by good citizens who stay at home.
  • During the 2024 European Union elections, 9 June 2024 [2]
• Now, all that matters is help for people threatened by flooding and state action. Those who can, let them help, those who can't, let them not hinder. Politics must give way to solidarity.
  • During floods in Poland, 15 September 2024 [3]

Quotes about Tusk

• Mr Tusk, who has been given to using the analogies of the divorce and divorce petition, is behaving like a cuckolded husband who is taking it out on the children.
  • Fabian Picardo - "Gibraltar leader says EU chief Donald Tusk 'behaving like a cuckolded husband'". The Independent. 3 April 2017. Retrieved on 16 October 2017.