05/09/2014 Politics Europe

flooding in decades. Now on BBC News it is time for Politics Europe.

Hello, and welcome to Politics Europe. Today's programme, EU

leaders agree tougher sanctions on Russia, in an attempt to end the

crisis in Ukraine. Germany and ounces plans to send arms to Kurdish

vices taking on an Islamic State in northern Iraq. Jean`Claude yorker

meets members of his new European Commission, as he decides who will

get the top jobs and meet the neighbours. We report from the EU's

newest member states, Croatia. So all that to come, and more, and the

next half an hour. First though, here is our guide to the latest from

Europe in just 60 seconds. Germany breaks its post`war policy of not

sending arms to conflict zones, and authorises the arming of a 4000

strong battalion of Kurdish fighters, to battle the Islamic

State in northern Iraq. Italy has the EU presidency in the newly

designated EU foreign affairs chief, says Nato countries bordering on

Russia need more than a paper pledged that Nato will step in, if

it comes to fight. You lost independence once before with Nato,

you will never lose it again. Strong words from the President as leaders

meet in Wales, for the latest Nato summit, with security issues across

the globe dominating. A potential headache for Angela Merkel, with

victory for the alternative for Germany party, for the first time a

party which opposes the euro one seats in the State assembly on

getting 10% of the vote in Saxony. Meanwhile, that sucks. New rules

banning the manufacture or import of over 1600 watts vacuum cleaners led

to a huge crush on the things before the ban came in. And with us for the

next 30 minutes, I am joined by Jane Collins and Catherine Stihler,

welcome to both of you. Let's take a look at one of those stories in more

detail, the EU's response to the Islamic State militants in Iraq.

Jane Collins, first of all, should Ransomes be paid to ISIS, to release

hostages? It is a very emotive question. I think once we start to

do that, you are going down a 1`way street, and you can't come back.

Don't know. Your position would be never to pay a ransom for

terrorists, in that sense, to have a British hostage released. Once you

have done it, as I said, you have opened the door, it is a 1`way

street, there is no turning around. Catherine Stihler, and you agree

with that, with the Prime Minister being quite hawkish on this issue? I

think there are other ways to try and deal with the situation, none of

us want this to be the way it is, but we have to negotiate and use

other means, than paying ransoms. The German parliament is arming up

Italian of Kurds, to some extent changing decades`old commitments by

Germany not to get involved militarily in any international

conflicts, and their Foreign Minister has recently given a speech

advocating more muscular German policy. You think, Jane Collins,

that it would be a good idea for a concerted EU effort to do things

like arm the Kurds? I think in Iraq at this moment in time, and

remember, we are virtually guilty of causing the situation, with this

illegal war, and we've got the tee sides now that were struggling to

get some sort of stability, and it is looking impossible. I think, with

the Islamic terrorist groups and everything, there has never been a

more good case for armed intervention in Iraq. Right, so you

are saying because debt, in the 2003 invasion. We did, we went into and

illegal war, led by Tony Blair. Has that led to the rise of Catherine

Stihler? To have taken advantage of a very destabilised country. What

about the situation in Syria? Should there have been airstrikes earlier

this year in Syria that might not have let to a vacuum for ISIS to

rise. The thing in Syria, is UKIP disagreed with arming the rebels,

because the very same people now are Wraxall using the arms against us.

They would say they are not the same people, that they were the moderate

resistance there. You think now Ed Miliband should firmly stand and say

we will support airstrikes if America calls on Britain. I think we

have to work together to find solutions to ISIS, that is why we

are working together. Should Labour support airstrikes? We should look

at all our options, but at this precise moment, we have to

negotiate, we have to make sure that we are working together. Who are we

negotiating with? Well, with our colleagues and our alliances. I

don't think that we can rush into things. This is such a serious

situation that we are in, where we have to make sure humanity, I mean,

look at what is happening with the Christian minority and other

religious minorities in northern Iraq. We have had humanitarian

efforts, we have had obviously that corporation which is absolutely

essential. But now we have to work together in Nato, across the

European Union, to tack to tackle this serious and poisonous threat. I

agree it is to be poisonous threat, but you can't negotiate with

terrorists. That is the main problem. Was a negotiate with

terrorists, I was saying we have to work together with other regional

powers. Within the EU. And that is something the European Union could

be doing. And isn't this time that we need allies in the EU more than

ever, rather than being isolated and out of Europe, as the UKIP was. We

can have our input into the situation is quite positively

without having to be part of the EU. I think we have to work together. To

come back to the point, north and south Iraq really do need to split,

and you could move... I disagreed on TV with that. You are calling for

the country to... Is so destabilised, we can move some of

the Christian population through to the Nineveh plans for safe keeping.

Shouldn't we recognise the Sunni minority to make sure their voices

are heard. This is the problem, that minorities have not been heard, and

it is important that we work together to make sure that happens.

You want to see the breakup of Iraq, because you don't think those

different groups can... Is just not working, and until it stabilised, it

won't. The EU is piling more pressure on Russia over the crisis

in Ukraine, with deeper economic sanctions targeting state`controlled

banking, energy, and defence sectors, under discussion. France

has already halted the delivery of a warship to Russia this week, one of

two that were on order before the existing sanctions were imposed. Now

more of President Putin's inner circle, dubbed Putin's cronies,

could have travel ban imposed on them, and if that doesn't persuade

President Putin, there are suggestions that the EU could

recommend that Russia be banned from participating in sporting events.

Including stripping them of the 2018 World Cup. It is due to be hosted in

Moscow. James Collins, what you think about 1000 troops being

committed to a rapid reaction force in Nato? `` James Collins. Can I

just address the fact that we have 30 of our soldiers already on

exercise in Ukraine. `` Jane Collins. Ukraine is not part of

Nato. No. We have no benefit in actually interfering in this

situation. Really? Unfortunately we have had America and the EU pushing

forward sanctions, pushing forward some interference. Now don't get me

wrong, we do not condone President Putin in his annexation of Crimea.

Do you think it has the right to do? No, we are saying we do not condone

him in his annexation of Crimea, and East Ukraine regions. I just said we

do not. But you don't think it's worth anybody coming in to stop him.

With do not actually say... What he is doing is wrong, that is what I am

saying. We don't actually think that what he is doing is right, what

we're saying is that there is no benefit from all these sanctions,

going in hard like we are doing, to actually, to the UK. What you say to

that Catherine? I think sanctions have to be... I disagree completely.

This is our neighbourhood. A foreign power has invaded the eastern part

of a sovereign country. This is a serious crisis across Europe, the

most serious since Nato in Serbia, this is something that is really,

really critical. And I think when you look at what is happening in a

sovereign state, where a foreign power has invaded, and also the fact

that many of our eastern European countries, who are now full members

of the European Union, their viewpoint about Russia and Russian

power, never forget Estonia had a cyber attack. Yes, but the fact of

the matter is that the EU, and America, coup to depose an elected

president. But what about what is happening in terms of people living

there. And also look what has happened as well with the aeroplane

crash, not being able to get into the site. It also written plays it

both ways. On one point he says he has nothing to do with the people

who are creating havoc in eastern Ukraine, but at the other side he

says he can stop and have a ceasefire. I welcome the move, that

is very important, that we are working together. What about the PM

today, I'm not sure it was today, but in Ukraine, actually dismissing

President Putin's 7`point plan. You mean President Boris Shango talking

about the ceasefire? Actually coming together to talk, both as foreign

land is the `` president Poroshenko. We welcome that, we need

to make sure there is a ceasefire. Are you not worried about what is

going on in eastern Ukraine in terms of how good effect of the Eastern

European countries and the rest of Europe. Of course it is worrying,

but what we are saying is we cannot see any benefit in putting armed

troops on the ground. It has got to be... We are talking about

sanctions, that is what we are doing. The Saxons are not touching

the gas and oil, and if it is not touching the gas and oil, it is

completely toothless. We will leave it there. The buzz in Brussels this

week has been all about who Jean`Claude Juncker will choose to

be his new commissioners when he takes over as president of the

European Commission in November. Will he have enough female

candidates? Will he rearrange the commission? And who will get the

best jobs? We sent our correspondent to find out. The current

commissioners only have two months left of these weekly meetings before

their replacements takeover. Appoint to these jobs are closely

scrutinised. They are powerful positions, because the commission is

the only part the EU that can propose new laws. It is up there on

the 13th floor of this building, at the home of the European Commission,

that you will find the president, soon to be Jean`Claude Juncker, and

his 27 commissioners. There is one commissioner from each member state,

and each looks after a different policy area. It is the President who

decides which portfolio each member state debts, so all this week,

Jean`Claude Juncker has been interviewing candidates. And

surprisingly, he seems to think I might have a chance. What job are

you going to give the UK can visit? Are you can visit? Sadly I am not a

candidate. Denmark's member has been the Commissioner for climate change

for five years. Nice to meet you, how are you. She knows all about the

gruelling process of getting the job. You come from your national

governments normally, you know a lot about politics, but this is a

different kind of world. So you have a certain humility, in the

approach. But you also know, for instance, that first meeting with

the President`elect is extremely important, because that is where it

is defined, what you are going to do, what is your true portfolio for

the next five years. Lord Hill, what position are you getting? Nice to

see you. And a very good conversation, thank you very much. A

positive UK candidate after his first meeting with Jean`Claude

Juncker. The new foreign portfolio is ready taken, Italy's member got

the job at last week's summit, when Poland's member was named as

president of the EU Council, but all the other jobs are still up for

grabs, which means journalists still have plenty to gossip about. The

most sought after jobs, generally speaking, are the economic ones, so

economic and monetary affairs, trade, the internal market,

accommodation, those areas. Britain has said, and David Cameron has made

it clear, that is what he wants, a top economic job. But if the spec

elation is right and he gets energy and climate change, you can argue

energy is absolutely crucial to our economy, so I think whatever he

gets, as long as it is in the economic area, he will be a will to

sell. Ultimately the final decision is taken in the European Parliament,

where MEPs will vote on Jean`Claude Juncker's packages of commissioners

and their portfolios. Vivian Reding is to be the commission's vice

president, like Jean`Claude Juncker, she is from Luxembourg, and says the

number of women candidates is an issue. Hanna women are half of the

talent, half of the knowledge, half of the responsibility, so let's also

carry half of the doing, what we are standing for. And I have the

impression that unfortunately, in some member states, this is not

taken seriously. This is an incredibly complicated

process, and even after Jean`Claude Juncker is made up his mind, it is

still not a done deal. We have been joined by the leader of

the Conservatives in Europe. It doesn't look as if Lord Hill will

get one of those top economic jobs, does it? We don't know yet. So far,

we have seen rumours of a draft commission plan. If it is true that

he might get the energy portfolio, that is a crucial portfolio. Look at

what David Cameron and President Obama are talking about at the

moment, how we need to secure energy from Russia. We have just heard from

one of the commentators in that film, that the government will argue

that whatever job Lord Hill gets is crucial to the economy, because

everything is crucial to the economy. It is not the same as

getting one of those top economic portfolios. He has made it quite

clear that he will change the portfolios around, so it won't be

exactly the same. If you had said to me a few weeks ago, what portfolio

would you like, energy would have been one of the top ones. It sounds

that is what he is going to get. I don't know that, once I know, if he

gets it, great. Let's take the energy portfolio away, which other

portfolio would you have liked for Lord Hill? I would like to see... We

are interest in British interests, trade, monetary affairs. Whatever

happens, the British MEPs will continue to stand up for that

crucial industry. Do you accept that without occupying one of those top

economic portfolios, Britain's influence in those areas between

prosperity and spending, rife within the European Union, will be

diminished? Absolutely not. They will discuss the issues, and often

commissioners bring up issues that are not strictly related to their

portfolios. Climate change is another issue, with the Paris

conference next year, it is a very important issue to be dealing with.

Don't forget it. Of course. Wouldn't it be better if we were occupying

one of the top economic roles? Of course it is. It is a bit of a

Mickey Mouse. His appointment is, for him, because he will be made

very unpopular at home, because energy bills will go up. He is going

to actually push through European legislation that will increase

windfarms, and it is the pensioners, the young families, their bills will

go up. He won't be popular. On the basis of what Jane Collins said when

she was talking about the portfolio, is it because Lord Hill wasn't

particularly well`known to anyone, particularly Jean`Claude Juncker,

that his chances of getting more role were also reduced? If we look

at most of the commissioners, many people don't know any commissioners

outside the Brussels Circle. Everyone I have met across the

political spectrum, including Jean`Claude Juncker himself, have

said to me that they have been very impressed. How many former prime

ministers will be chosen as commissioners or have been chosen as

commissioners? Some have clearly been chosen. Just because you are

former prime ministers is not mean you are the most effective PM. That

they agree with, but it is all about profile, isn't it? It is not, it is

about being well respected within the Brussels Circle. Jean`Claude

Juncker had to Google Lord Hill, so he didn't know him, let alone

respect him. The UK is not well respected in the UK, so... You think

that is Ukip's Fault? The single market is not there any more.

Consumer rights isn't there any more, and those are the things when

I think, there is better regulation, which is down to the Dutch

representative. A German has a trade portfolio, the French have

competition. These are all rumours, we will find out next week. I think

we have to look at it in totality. There is a healing process, it is

very tough, and then they have to vote in the Parliament. We have to

go to see this College of commissioners approved. Now there

are nine female candidates, and that is something... I would rather see

no commissioners. We don't have a British commissioner, they are

called EU commissioners. But they are working on the half of the UK as

well, aren't they? You wouldn't think so, if you actually saw what

was happening. We can argue about whether there is a point of

commissioners. Should the public know a little bit more about what

they do and who they are? Yes, I think it is important. I spoke to

the Tory backbenchers this week, and 1.I made, whatever you think of the

EU, we are members, and that means that legislation we made in Brussels

becomes law in Britain, and we have to recognise that. What was the

reaction? Very positive. It'll wanted to know who these people are.

People need to recognise how many of our laws are made in Brussels.

Briefly, do you think there would have been more chance of getting one

of the top jobs if David Cameron had nominated someone. Hang on, you are

saying that the job that Lord Hill is getting won't be one of the top

jobs. If you look at the crucial issues that Obama and Cameron talked

about the Nato summit, energy is one of those. Hold onto your hats, we

have the first a new series of elms called Meet the Neighbours. We

started off in Croatia, the newest member of the EU, where our reporter

got himself into a bit of a fight. I am finding out about life as a

gladiator in a town in northern Croatia. It is like being in a bin.

Another empire was here long would you rather be subject of the Roman

Empire or EU Empire? OK, Roman Empire was definitely more choral.

This is a country that is used to joining just listen to the tour

guide. My grandfather was born in Austria. My father in Italy. I was

born in Yugoslavia and my kids in Croatia. And all in the same city,

so that is the 20th century for rust. Croatia is always changing

hands. Many countries will never go through what we went through in the

last century, so this is a very interesting place. Nowadays, Croatia

is famous for tourism, at a big industry is shipbuilding. So big you

need a bike to get around. Two ferries over there are going to

Turkmenistan, the ship is going to Afghanistan, and this tanker is

going to be rented out. It is massive. The country's shipyards

were state run, but they had to be sold off as a condition of joining

the EU. Brussels also insisted the country bring lots of sectors up to

European standards, from the police to the sewerage system. Now, let's

get a taste of the politics. This restaurant is called Cocker

doodle do, the left`wing parties that form the government developed

their policies here, so they are known by that name. They had several

courses, good Croatian wine and good wine, and with those come good

ideas. Another regular diner was the former PM, who was jailed earlier

this year for corruption on a massive scale. Something that is

often on the menu in Croatia. But here is one customer who is squeaky

clean. She is part of a brand`new Green party that wants to shake up

the system. The general impression is that our politics is all about

obtaining power and privileges, well`paid positions, and not caring

about the rest of the world. The problem people worry about most here

is the state of the economy. Croatia has been battling a fierce recession

for six years, and not everyone is convinced that joining the EU will

shield them from it getting worse. Not a resounding success for Croatia

since it has joined the EU? I think talking to Croatian colleagues, I

think Croatia has welcomed being a member of the EU. Access to the

single market, the fact that 4.4 million people are now European

citizens. Why is the economy not doing well? Across the EU, our

economies have been hit by the recession, and are recovering. It is

the only member state, and I wrote to every country about the

independence, they said there would be no shortcuts. I welcome that. 18

billion spent on them in 2013, the tourism hasn't taken off as they

hoped it would, 20% unemployment, I don't see where there is any

benefit. There is nothing evident that it has been beneficial to join

the EU. That's it for today, thank you to my guests.

A bit of a blip in the settled whether we have been having, some of

us getting showers or rain. Normal service will resume on Monday, as we

will see in a moment. If you have been having showers,