0:00:00 > 0:00:06Now on BBC News, Politics Europe.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46Hello and welcome to Politics Europe, your regular guided to the
0:00:46 > 0:00:51top stories in Brussels and Strasbourg. On today's programme: As
0:00:51 > 0:00:54the Brexit Secratary accuses the European Union of discourteous
0:00:54 > 0:00:57language, will the government get the frictionless trade with Europe
0:00:57 > 0:01:01they want after Brexit if we're not in the customs union?
0:01:01 > 0:01:06Angela Merkel does a deal with her Socialist rivals to form a coalition
0:01:06 > 0:01:09five months after the German elections, but how stable will her
0:01:09 > 0:01:16new government be? And how should Brussels' new top Euro grant be
0:01:16 > 0:01:21chosen, we investigate the process. And has the European Parliament
0:01:21 > 0:01:31voted to abolish summertime? All that to come and more in the next
0:01:31 > 0:01:36half an hour and joining me for all of it is the Mirror's associate
0:01:36 > 0:01:41editor and Camilla comedy of the Express but first here's our guide
0:01:41 > 0:01:45to the latest from Europe in 60 seconds. Turns out it's not just the
0:01:45 > 0:01:49Brits who like to talk weather, much of Europe has faced freezing
0:01:49 > 0:01:53temperatures with Parisians even skiing down Montmartre and snowfall
0:01:53 > 0:01:57shutting down the Eiffel Tower. Frosty relations seem to have thawed
0:01:57 > 0:02:01in Germany as the country looks set to emerge from months of political
0:02:01 > 0:02:05deep-freeze with Angela Merkel's conservatives finally agreeing a
0:02:05 > 0:02:08coalition deal with the centre-left Social Democrats. The European
0:02:08 > 0:02:12Parliament voted against proposals to create a backdrop and European
0:02:12 > 0:02:16MEPs that would have allowed a vote in Finland or Spain to be
0:02:16 > 0:02:20represented by the same MEP, delivering a blow to Macron's plans
0:02:20 > 0:02:25to transform EU democracy. The European Parliament also voted to
0:02:25 > 0:02:28remove one of its vice presidents after he sparked outrage by
0:02:28 > 0:02:32comparing a fellow Polish MEP to a Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
0:02:32 > 0:02:35collaborator. The European Commission bigwig Jean-Claude
0:02:35 > 0:02:42Juncker on the other hand is clearly feeling coming when he ruffled the
0:02:42 > 0:02:46hair of his chief Brexit negotiator ahead of a Strasbourg debate on the
0:02:46 > 0:02:53future of Europe. Let's talk about Germany and the coalition that may
0:02:53 > 0:02:57or may not be secured, what do you think will happen?I think she will
0:02:57 > 0:03:02be but she's given a lot of ground, the SDP, which didn't do well in the
0:03:02 > 0:03:05election, are extracting their price and she is and what she was. She's
0:03:05 > 0:03:10still Chancellor but she's not as commanding, all political careers
0:03:10 > 0:03:14have to end in failure at some time and you can feel she's in a much
0:03:14 > 0:03:23later state. But I wouldn't write her off.The polls say she's still
0:03:23 > 0:03:26in a relatively strong position.Her rather than the party but she isn't
0:03:26 > 0:03:31as strong as she once but it will still be Macron in France and her in
0:03:31 > 0:03:36Germany calling the main shots and we will know that when redo the
0:03:36 > 0:03:41negotiations.If the coalition goes ahead with the Labour Party in
0:03:41 > 0:03:45Germany, and the members have to vote on that, where does it leave
0:03:45 > 0:03:49the ADF party, the far right group, within the Bundestag that secured
0:03:49 > 0:03:54many seats in the election?It still leaves them knocking on the door and
0:03:54 > 0:03:58I think they are still a threat and I think Merkel has had a wake-up
0:03:58 > 0:04:02call as far as the electorate is concerned that some of her policies
0:04:02 > 0:04:09haven't been popular. It's a massive concession they've lost the finance
0:04:09 > 0:04:12ministry to the coalition partners and looking forward to Brexit,
0:04:12 > 0:04:15thinking psychologically, will Merkel be thinking having gone
0:04:15 > 0:04:19through this tussle to try to secure an agreement that she has comprised
0:04:19 > 0:04:24so much that she will get tough on the UK when it comes to the EU? Who
0:04:24 > 0:04:28knows what her state of mind is but there's a bit of irony about her
0:04:28 > 0:04:32having a go at Theresa May not being able to make up her mind couple of
0:04:32 > 0:04:35weeks ago when she's herself in this hugely precarious position.But
0:04:35 > 0:04:39Germany often goes through months of decision making when it comes to
0:04:39 > 0:04:44coalitions, it is unusual to go along for this long and struggle in
0:04:44 > 0:04:48the way she has to secure a coalition, has a weakened Germany's
0:04:48 > 0:04:54position broadly in the EU?I'm not sure it has. Germany is such an
0:04:54 > 0:04:59industrial economic powerhouse still, such a large country and the
0:04:59 > 0:05:03additional member system, part PR, we're one of the countries that
0:05:03 > 0:05:07imposed it after the Second World War, it works towards coalitions but
0:05:07 > 0:05:11it is who is in that coalition. It's taken longer than before, it took
0:05:11 > 0:05:16some time anyway, but the Germans work these things through but you
0:05:16 > 0:05:21just feel that she herself isn't a commanding figure but I think paired
0:05:21 > 0:05:28to Theresa May I think Theresa May would love to be in Merkel's
0:05:28 > 0:05:32position.I think they are both from the conservative background, they've
0:05:32 > 0:05:36a lot in common, they both have religious fervour about them, they
0:05:36 > 0:05:41cut a similar figure in terms of being isolated on the world stage.
0:05:41 > 0:05:47It's interesting, maybe they should get together over a coffee.On that,
0:05:47 > 0:05:52we will move on! The second stage of Brexit negotiations with the EU have
0:05:52 > 0:05:56begun with talks moving onto the transition stage. On Sunday, the
0:05:56 > 0:05:59government confirmed that we are categorically leaving the customs
0:05:59 > 0:06:06union and it is not our policy to stay in a customs union. Visiting
0:06:06 > 0:06:09London on Monday, chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier responded
0:06:09 > 0:06:11by saying:
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Adding that:
0:06:17 > 0:06:21It's still unclear whether the UK will stay in the customs union and
0:06:21 > 0:06:25the single market during any transition period. A leaked EU draft
0:06:25 > 0:06:28of the withdrawal agreement suggested the UK's access to the
0:06:28 > 0:06:33single market would be restricted during the transition phase if
0:06:33 > 0:06:38there's a dispute after Brexit. Brexit Secratary David Davis the EU
0:06:38 > 0:06:42of using discourteous language in the document and Brexiteers claim
0:06:42 > 0:06:46continued membership of the customs union and single market would render
0:06:46 > 0:06:51Britain a vassal state. Remainers and some business groups have called
0:06:51 > 0:06:55for urgent action from government to address the uncertainty with the
0:06:55 > 0:06:58British Chambers of Commerce this week that their patience is wearing
0:06:58 > 0:07:04thin. We're joined now from Amsterdam by the Dutch MEP Paul Tang
0:07:04 > 0:07:08who earlier this week described Theresa May's Brexit strategy as
0:07:08 > 0:07:13stupidity. From Brussels by the Conservative MP Dan Dalton. Welcome
0:07:13 > 0:07:18to both of you. Paul Tang first of all, do you regret calling Theresa
0:07:18 > 0:07:27May's strategy on Brexit stupidity? Well, no. I think it is still
0:07:27 > 0:07:36stupid. There are huge problems with exiting not the EU but the customs
0:07:36 > 0:07:41union. The customs unions will lead to a hard border, leaving the
0:07:41 > 0:07:44customs union will lead to a hard border between Ireland and Northern
0:07:44 > 0:07:51Ireland, that has been an issue before. Moreover, it will hamper the
0:07:51 > 0:07:56trade and transport of goods and it will take a big swing at the
0:07:56 > 0:08:02factories in England. It will hit the blue-collar workers that still
0:08:02 > 0:08:06work in factories. They are the ones that play and I think they're
0:08:06 > 0:08:12stupid, are they the ones to pay for these ideological choices?Dan
0:08:12 > 0:08:15Dalton, what was your response to hearing that language about the
0:08:15 > 0:08:18strategy and do you think the Conservative government should keep
0:08:18 > 0:08:23some sort of customs union relationship on the table?No, I
0:08:23 > 0:08:26think there's a misunderstanding about the customs union because it
0:08:26 > 0:08:30is often portrayed as if staying in the customs union when leaving the
0:08:30 > 0:08:34EU is the status quo and it isn't. What it would mean is the day we
0:08:34 > 0:08:38left the EU but stayed in the customs union, we would lose trade
0:08:38 > 0:08:42access to all the countries the EU has done trade deals with around the
0:08:42 > 0:08:46rest of the world in addition to not being able to do trade deals are
0:08:46 > 0:08:49self. So staying in the customs union would mean an EU only trade
0:08:49 > 0:08:52policy, there is no professional agreement with any other company and
0:08:52 > 0:08:57we wouldn't be up to get one so the only option frankly for the UK is to
0:08:57 > 0:09:00leave the customs union despite the troubles, there is the only option
0:09:00 > 0:09:05on the table.Paul Tang, do you agree we would lose access to any
0:09:05 > 0:09:09third country agreements that have been made with the EU, we would be a
0:09:09 > 0:09:15vassal state?Know because I think the new trade agreements are not
0:09:15 > 0:09:19about the trade and transport of goods, they are about services, much
0:09:19 > 0:09:25more important and growing part of the economy. This is what is at
0:09:25 > 0:09:29stake for the future relation. I think Great Britain after exiting
0:09:29 > 0:09:33the UK can make trade agreements especially on services. But coming
0:09:33 > 0:09:40back one moment, we think that Turkey and the EU are not best
0:09:40 > 0:09:44friends, right? But Turkey is still part of the customs union and that's
0:09:44 > 0:09:51an economic reason. This is a way to trade and transport goods.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55Dan, is it your understanding that Britain remains in the customs union
0:09:55 > 0:10:01during the transition period? It hasn't been fully discussed. The
0:10:01 > 0:10:05government has certainly said it needs to address the issue I just
0:10:05 > 0:10:09talked about, i.e. Losing access to third countries for our exports.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Are you saying like the international trade Minister earlier
0:10:12 > 0:10:15this week that the government still hasn't got a position on whether
0:10:15 > 0:10:19Britain stays in the customs union despite the fact David Davis has
0:10:19 > 0:10:22said we will remain on the same terms during that implementation
0:10:22 > 0:10:28period?I think you sort of answer the question yourself.Can you say
0:10:28 > 0:10:32it for us, are we going to stay in the customs union?We will stay on
0:10:32 > 0:10:36the same terms as currently but we need to address this issue, which is
0:10:36 > 0:10:40the key issue that we suddenly lose access to all our export markets for
0:10:40 > 0:10:43those that countries that have done deals with the EU and that's the
0:10:43 > 0:10:47issue David Davis is trying to address and needs to be addressed in
0:10:47 > 0:10:51the midocean Asians. If we get that then I suggest we will be staying in
0:10:51 > 0:10:56for the transition.-- negotiations. Your position, I take this is a
0:10:56 > 0:10:59negotiation, it still hasn't been cleared up whether Britain has
0:10:59 > 0:11:05access to the countries that have made agreements outside the EU, but
0:11:05 > 0:11:09the British government position in the transition that Britain would
0:11:09 > 0:11:14remain in the customs union?I'm not a spokesman for the British
0:11:14 > 0:11:17government but my understanding is if we can address this issue with
0:11:17 > 0:11:21regards to those third countries and also the ability to do our own trade
0:11:21 > 0:11:25deals as well then as I understand it the government is open for
0:11:25 > 0:11:30staying in for that period providing those provisos are met.Paul Tang,
0:11:30 > 0:11:34isn't that the point, this is a negotiation so whatever's been said
0:11:34 > 0:11:38by Michel Barnier when he says the decision the UK will leave the
0:11:38 > 0:11:42single market and customs union will mean border checks at the Irish
0:11:42 > 0:11:45frontier is his negotiating position, it doesn't mean it is
0:11:45 > 0:11:54fact? No, I would say it is logic. I
0:11:54 > 0:11:57haven't seen the alternative for the border between Ireland and Northern
0:11:57 > 0:12:03Ireland. I'm not sure you have heard it, I haven't heard it. The customs
0:12:03 > 0:12:07union is the option on the table and I wouldn't throw that option away if
0:12:07 > 0:12:14I were Great Britain. So it's not just a matter of negotiation, it's
0:12:14 > 0:12:21also a matter of logic. By the way, just look at a map. You can try to
0:12:21 > 0:12:26agree new trade agreements but let's face it, the UK and the EU are
0:12:26 > 0:12:29pretty close geographically. We are a logical trading partner so the
0:12:29 > 0:12:34first priority should be, especially if you want to protect jobs and
0:12:34 > 0:12:37industry, find a trade agreement with the EU.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41You said, Dan, that you're not a spokesperson for the British
0:12:41 > 0:12:46government, are you happy with the government's negotiating position?
0:12:46 > 0:12:49Yeah, I think the government has been very clear from the word go
0:12:49 > 0:12:54that we want to leave...Your answer slightly led me to believe that the
0:12:54 > 0:12:57UK government hasn't been very clear because you don't seem to be sure
0:12:57 > 0:13:01about what the position is? I'm very clear on the position, I'm
0:13:01 > 0:13:05just saying I'm not representing the British Government, I'm a
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Conservative MEP from the government party but I'm not privy to
0:13:08 > 0:13:11negotiations but my understanding is clear that the government position
0:13:11 > 0:13:15is we would leave the customs union and single market and we would have
0:13:15 > 0:13:20a frictionless trade partnership with the EU.Is the right thing,
0:13:20 > 0:13:26Paul Tang, to use language to make Britain get punished if, as far as
0:13:26 > 0:13:30the EU is concerned, the UK doesn't stick to the letter of the
0:13:30 > 0:13:33transition agreement, that somehow restrictions would be placed on
0:13:33 > 0:13:37Britain in terms of access to the single market. Does that help smooth
0:13:37 > 0:13:45the way to successful negotiations? Know, normally it doesn't. I know
0:13:45 > 0:13:53how words from Barnier are perceived in the UK. That is unfortunate. It's
0:13:53 > 0:13:59also in the perception I would say. I don't think that the EU is
0:13:59 > 0:14:02threatening but it's pointing out the options that are on the table
0:14:02 > 0:14:06and personally I don't think the British Government has been clear on
0:14:06 > 0:14:09that. I would love the British Government to be clear. It never
0:14:09 > 0:14:13ceases to amaze me that the British government seems more divided than
0:14:13 > 0:14:18the 27 other states. Right, you say that, but does Michel
0:14:18 > 0:14:23Barnier really now speak for the entire European Union? Oh, I think
0:14:23 > 0:14:28we have lost... We've got you back, can you still hear me, Paul Tang?
0:14:28 > 0:14:33Yeah, I can hear you.We lost you momentarily, we've got you back. Are
0:14:33 > 0:14:39the big question, you say Britain is more divided than the EU 27, but
0:14:39 > 0:14:42does Michel Barnier speak for the Netherlands in terms of the draft EU
0:14:42 > 0:14:46text? Can we really imagine a state where the Netherlands would want to
0:14:46 > 0:14:50put up barriers to trade with the UK? They don't want to make it more
0:14:50 > 0:14:57difficult, do they?
0:14:57 > 0:15:00There will be different in that they have been excluded by the British
0:15:00 > 0:15:04government. I expect there be differences but we don't see a
0:15:04 > 0:15:11difference is it you cannot cherry pick. That is the fear that keeps
0:15:11 > 0:15:17the EU 27 together. But when there are real choices on the table, I
0:15:17 > 0:15:25expect there will be some kind of deficient between the EU 27.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29Listening they're to Dan Sultan, what is your impression of this
0:15:29 > 0:15:33seemingly confusion over whether Britain is going to remain in the
0:15:33 > 0:15:41customs union?It was made clear that we would be leaving the single
0:15:41 > 0:15:48market and the customs union. What is she going to do? Stowing -- going
0:15:48 > 0:15:52and briefing against Hammond and others before she has a Cabinet
0:15:52 > 0:15:57consensus only then to face more counter briefing...But we have
0:15:57 > 0:16:01ready head David Davis saved will be on terms.This is what is confusing
0:16:01 > 0:16:07because David Davis... And this is why we have reason mocks... There is
0:16:07 > 0:16:13acclaimed David Davis has lost control to Lee Robbins who seems to
0:16:13 > 0:16:17be briefing he does want us to stay in the customs union. There is a
0:16:17 > 0:16:21problem with the ad men of this process.Yes. If it was only about
0:16:21 > 0:16:32admen. -- admen. -- admin. Is it about using the sort of language
0:16:32 > 0:16:35that David Davis used as discourteous, that this is them
0:16:35 > 0:16:40trying to exert political pressure? Of course, the 27 are looking after
0:16:40 > 0:16:47their interests as the UK are supposed to be. I think the current
0:16:47 > 0:16:50policy is the national interest but that is their attempt. It is clear
0:16:50 > 0:16:54as a drunken mass or in a bar after midnight. What is actually
0:16:54 > 0:17:00happening. Theresa May have a warring Cabinet, a warring parties.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05She might think is she knows what she wants but she can't get it which
0:17:05 > 0:17:09is why we are in this ridiculous row about what we are asking for in the
0:17:09 > 0:17:13transition period and if we don't know what we are asking for, how can
0:17:13 > 0:17:25we get it?We will find out. Now, the ship its candidate process. --
0:17:25 > 0:17:31Schpitzen. It is about choosing your's top bureaucrat.When
0:17:31 > 0:17:36Jean-Claude Juncker comes to Strasberg, he sits here. He got his
0:17:36 > 0:17:40job through the lead candidate system which it says the European
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Commission president should be the person put forward by the political
0:17:43 > 0:17:47grouping that does best at the European Parliament elections. In
0:17:47 > 0:17:512014, that was the centre right EP peak, yorker was their man and
0:17:51 > 0:17:57that's why this is now his chair. -- ETP. Jean-Claude Juncker. It was
0:17:57 > 0:18:05opposed to -- by David Cameron. Now MPs say they would reject anyone who
0:18:05 > 0:18:19wasn't a Schpitzen Candidat.We will not accept anyone as lead candidate
0:18:19 > 0:18:24of the Democratic Party. And can bring about a majority in the new
0:18:24 > 0:18:28elected European Parliament.The Liberals tried to go further this
0:18:28 > 0:18:33week. A directly elected president rather than someone selected by
0:18:33 > 0:18:39party bosses like last time.They were never relate it by citizens of
0:18:39 > 0:18:44Europe. -- never elected. They were just appointed will stop in this
0:18:44 > 0:18:50case, we have Jean-Claude Juncker who was appointed by the ETP. They
0:18:50 > 0:18:54were the biggest party. We would get away from that and people would stop
0:18:54 > 0:18:59blaming us for democratic deficiencies if they can actually
0:18:59 > 0:19:03pick up the list and vote for a person.Others think it should be
0:19:03 > 0:19:16jumped altogether.It is taking away some member states' power. This is a
0:19:16 > 0:19:29wrong message. We avoided the system to get completely in 2014.Now the
0:19:29 > 0:19:35debate moves from Parliament's corners to a meeting of EU leaders
0:19:35 > 0:19:38at the end of the month where there is a split between opponents and
0:19:38 > 0:19:42supporters but the Croatian Prime Minister who I chanced upon doing a
0:19:42 > 0:19:50bit of gladhanding.In 2014 when I was leading the list of my political
0:19:50 > 0:19:56party and my political family in Croatia. It was a cohesive element
0:19:56 > 0:19:59for the elections. I feel that we should continue with this concept at
0:19:59 > 0:20:12these elections. I supported it again today.Who is this? Somebody
0:20:12 > 0:20:20who wants to be the Schpitzen Candidat. Do you think is it a good
0:20:20 > 0:20:27idea?Brexit, Brexit.Sticking to their day job for now.It is all
0:20:27 > 0:20:34about Brexit. We are talking about the Schpitzen Candidat today. I hope
0:20:34 > 0:20:42you can hear me. How much backing of this have? This idea of the
0:20:42 > 0:20:56Parliament or the biggest party having a say?They clearly support
0:20:56 > 0:21:04the idea. They stand behind the idea. It is a way to strengthen
0:21:04 > 0:21:09democracy in the EU. The main challenge is the European countries
0:21:09 > 0:21:26because a lot of them think it would reduce their powers. They have drawn
0:21:26 > 0:21:36a lot of criticism in the EU. -- Spitzenkandidat. It is not necessary
0:21:36 > 0:21:40and far from the EU's concerns of the EQ.David Cameron was unhappy
0:21:40 > 0:21:45about the idea of Jean-Claude Juncker, for example, becoming
0:21:45 > 0:21:50president. Didn't want to lose the power that nationstates had in
0:21:50 > 0:21:53deciding what influencing that decision. When you say people are
0:21:53 > 0:21:58against it, who else is against the idea of the Parliament having more
0:21:58 > 0:22:02influence?The most surprising country against the Spitzenkandidat
0:22:02 > 0:22:06is France. It is surprising because a Emmanuel Macron, the French
0:22:06 > 0:22:11President, has always declared and supported an election process that
0:22:11 > 0:22:18would be more democratic and he has always been very keen to make Europe
0:22:18 > 0:22:25much more transparent and democratic. It is surprising from
0:22:25 > 0:22:30him. His position is that the Spitzenkandidat would favour the
0:22:30 > 0:22:34party in the European Parliament that has won the most seats which
0:22:34 > 0:22:43means there EPP. We know, he never said it publicly, but clearly we
0:22:43 > 0:22:48know he doesn't like that because it is not his party.Funny that. All
0:22:48 > 0:22:51editions always like an idea unless it doesn't go the way they would
0:22:51 > 0:23:03like to -- politicians. What about directly appointing the president --
0:23:03 > 0:23:09electing the president?It might happen some day but clearly not now.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13The Spitzenkandidat itself is already an improvement because the
0:23:13 > 0:23:22so many years it was decided among EU leaders in backroom deals and the
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Parliament wasn't involved. It is a big step forward that the Parliament
0:23:25 > 0:23:33could have the right at some point to elect the candidate. Maybe in it
0:23:33 > 0:23:40you years, we would have an elected president.Thank you very much. Now,
0:23:40 > 0:23:45did MEPs vote to abolish summertime this week? Well, no. But they did us
0:23:45 > 0:23:48the European Commission to consult on stopping the practice of changing
0:23:48 > 0:23:51the clocks between the summer and winter months. Currently the EU
0:23:51 > 0:23:55decides when the clock should go forward and when they go back. One
0:23:55 > 0:24:03Italian MEP thought the whole thing was a waste of time and money.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07TRANSLATION: Here we are talking about whether Ronald we should
0:24:07 > 0:24:13abolish this. What if we move the fingers of the clock in our back and
0:24:13 > 0:24:24that would mean saving, for European citizens, at Tally and citizens, a
0:24:24 > 0:24:27saving of 150,000 euros which we could then give back to citizens. --
0:24:27 > 0:24:37Italian.Your thoughts?I would love to do it. It comes up every now and
0:24:37 > 0:24:41again in this country. I can see the argument for more sunlight in the
0:24:41 > 0:24:49morning. It is a pain.What do you think?My children, three under
0:24:49 > 0:24:54nine, are already wired into the city -- wide into the system. I can
0:24:54 > 0:24:58tell we need the clocks go forward to keep them back in bed a bit
0:24:58 > 0:25:02longer. We are wired to the system. I don't think people take kindly to
0:25:02 > 0:25:10being tech -- dictated to by that EU.Do it themselves. I have had
0:25:10 > 0:25:17Brexit extremists saying just do it. I like the way you both got in your
0:25:17 > 0:25:23little calling cards. Brexit extremists. Consultation, do you
0:25:23 > 0:25:32think it will actually happen?A consultation, God.On that basis, I
0:25:32 > 0:25:36will consult on both of you. It's the end. That is it for now. Thank
0:25:36 > 0:25:40you for our guests. From all of us