The claim is Nigel Farage's characterization that Herman Van Rompuy "appeared to have a loathing for the very concept of the existence of nation states," stated in the European Parliament on February 24, 2010. There is some basis for the claim. Van Rompuy made several public statements critical of nationalism and skeptical of nation-state independence: 1. In a November 2010 speech in Berlin, he declared: "The time of the homogeneous nation state is over." 2. He said: "In every member state, there are people who believe their country can survive alone in the globalised world. It is more than an illusion – it is a lie." 3. He stated: "Fear leads to egoism, egoism leads to nationalism, and nationalism leads to war." 4. He called Euroscepticism a "danger" that needed to be fought. However, the claim significantly overstates Van Rompuy's position. He did not express "loathing for the very concept of the existence of nation states." To the contrary: 1. In his Bruges speech (February 25, 2010 — the day after Farage's attack), he described the EU as "a convoy of 27 ships, each flying their own flag," explicitly acknowledging nation states as distinct, sovereign entities. 2. He said: "Even if our unity is our strength, our diversity remains our wealth." 3. He acknowledged the tension between "the one" and "the many" as "part of our identity." 4. In a later speech at Chatham House, he explicitly stated: "The Union is not about giving up your own role; no, it is about leveraging our strength by aligning our positions." 5. He distinguished between nationalism (which he criticized) and positive national identity: "Today's nationalism is often not a positive feeling of pride in one's own identity, but a negative feeling of apprehension of the others." Van Rompuy's actual position was that nation states could not effectively act alone in a globalized world and needed to pool sovereignty through the EU — not that he loathed their existence or concept. The characterization as "loathing for the very concept of the existence of nation states" is an exaggeration that misrepresents his more nuanced federalist perspective. While one could argue his rhetoric against nationalism and his declaration that the era of the homogeneous nation state was "over" could create an appearance of hostility to nation states, the evidence shows he explicitly recognized and valued them. Van Rompuy did publicly criticize nationalism, declare that the era of the "homogeneous nation state" was over, and call the idea that countries could survive alone "a lie" — providing some basis for the appearance of hostility toward nation-state sovereignty. However, the claim that he "loathed the very concept of the existence of nation states" overstates and mischaracterizes his position: he explicitly acknowledged nation states as real and valuable entities, described the EU as a "convoy" of ships each flying their own flag, and stated the Union was "not about giving up your own role." Sources: - BBC News, "Tirade against 'damp rag' EU president shocks MEPs" (February 24, 2010): http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8535121.stm - Collège d'Europe, "Address by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council" (February 25, 2010): https://www.coleurope.eu/sites/default/files/speech-files/20100225_speech_vanrompuy_0.pdf - Daily Mail, "Herman Van Rompuy: The end of Britain as a nation state?" (November 11, 2010): https://www.dailymail.com/debate/article-1328579/Herman-Van-Rompuy-The-end-Britain-nation-state.html - Real Agenda, "Nation-States are Dead says European Union Chief" (November 12, 2010): https://real-agenda.com/2010/11/12/nation-states-are-dead-says-european-union-chief/ - European Council, Former President Herman Van Rompuy page (Consilium): https://web.archive.org/web/20231028183701/https:/www.consilium.europa.eu/en/european-council/former-euco-presidents/former-president-herman-van-rompuy/