I have been supporting the European Union, but we are still a work in progress. We have to become more of a United States of Europe. We should talk about electing a president of the E.U., rather than having one selected from the heads of government.

The quote by George Papandreou expresses his support for the European Union (E.U.) while acknowledging that it is still a work in progress. He believes that the E.U. needs to evolve into a more cohesive entity, similar to the United States in terms of political unity and structure. Papandreou suggests that in order to further integrate the European Union, there should be a focus on electing a president of the E.U. rather than having one selected by the heads of government. This would give the position more legitimacy and foster a stronger sense of collective governance within the union.

Papandreou’s statement reflects his belief in a stronger, more unified Europe, where political decisions are made in a way that reflects the interests of all member states, rather than being dominated by the leaders of individual countries. He envisions a more democratic structure in which the European Union is not just an economic bloc but also a political union capable of making decisions with greater authority. By electing a president, he argues, the European Union could demonstrate a more unified front to the world and foster closer cooperation among its member states.

The origin of this quote stems from Papandreou's tenure as the Prime Minister of Greece, during which he was an advocate for European integration. As a supporter of the European Union and its mission of creating a more interconnected and stable Europe, Papandreou saw the need for further political integration to address the challenges facing the continent, including economic crises and political fragmentation.

In essence, Papandreou's quote highlights the need for the European Union to become more unified and politically structured, with an elected president to represent the interests of the whole union. He calls for a deeper integration of European nations, moving beyond economic cooperation and creating a more politically unified system that mirrors the United States model, where leadership is more directly accountable to the people.