21/01/2017 Politics Europe

Hello, and welcome to Politics Europe. On today's programme.

Theresa May spells out her Brexit plant, confirming the UK will leave

the single market, warning EU leaders that no deal is better than

a bad deal. We will look at reaction across Europe and examine the likely

negotiating strategy of the of the EU. We report from Strasbourg where

MEPs have voted for this man, Antonio, as the new president of the

European Parliament. And as Donald Trump enters the White House, how

are the residents of Melania Trump's hometown in Slovenia celebrating the

success of their most famous ex-resident. I put white chocolate

because of the White House, she is always dressed in white. So I put

white chocolate. So, all that to come and more in the next half-hour.

First, though, here is our guide to the latest from Europe in just 60

seconds. After much anticipation, on Tuesday, Prime Minister Theresa May

delivered her speech on Brexit. She said the UK would lay the single

market, and had a strong message to European neighbours. No deal is

better than a bad deal. There were mixed reactions from European

leaders, some accusing her of cherry picking from the EU. Others were

more kind. We want a fair deal with Britain and for Britain. Also on

Tuesday, the European Parliament elected its new president, Antonio,

from the centre-right EPP. On Thursday, MEPs called for emergency

aid for refugees again, specifically to help them with freezing

temperatures and snow across Europe. And also this week, a report from

top officials calls for the EU to raise its own taxes. Standby for a

European VAT, a bank levy, or corporate tax. Actually, don't hold

your breath. With me for the next few minutes is the right and left

MEPs. And also we are joined from Brussels by our political chief

correspondent, David. Let me come to you first. When will we get the

combined or collective European negotiating position Theresa May has

outlined with her speech this week what Britain wants. Will we get

something similar from the European Union side? Certainly not before the

formal triggering of Article 50. The EU has been very clear about this.

It is not their job to help the EU a long. So you know the steps we need

to take. We are still waiting for a court decision for Parliament to

act. Once that happens in the formal notification is received from

Brussels, we will see Michel Barnier kicked into action with a more

cohesive message coming out of Russells at that point. -- Brussels.

In London, how much hostility is there to Britain building up to

these negotiations? There is resignation and disappointment with

the way we are going. I would also say there is almost a feeling of

abdication of political leadership in terms of we keep talking about

immigration and only immigration and not discussing important issues like

the economy and jobs. And what that means... And the speech hasn't

really, other than clarifying we will not be in the single market,

which I am personally really devastated by, because I do think it

is important for our economy and jobs, and for our income, to

safeguard NHS, education, and services, but I think the main

concern is that we seem to have thrown in the towel before we have

actually started negotiations. What do you say to that? I disagree. I

happen to be in the more detailed discussions that are happening

between the Parliament's it is. What I have noticed is a change of tone

over the Christmas period. -- committees. As the committees looked

after the more detailed negotiations. We had a long

interview with Michel Barnier. One of the people heading up the

negotiations. He is a detailed person, talking about the need for a

new partnership and relationship, one that recognises the close

economic ties between Europe... I... What I have noticed. Sorry. As they

look at the details, the more practical and pragmatic approach,

not wanting to damage the economy on either side of the Channel, I am

just beginning to feel that, in that negotiation... I would say that in

response to Theresa May's speech this week, it has undone some of

that work. I have said this... No, my colleagues are also involved in

those negotiations with Michel Barnier. And there is a plan to move

these things forward, he said. But the speech, the way things have gone

down now, people are saying, well, you are not really interested in

closing a deal. You have stated you want out. Let me go back to...

David, let me ask you this again, because, on this side of the

Channel, we are still a little unclear. Assume Article 50 is

triggered by the vote in Parliament and that is the way it has gone.

What then? How does Europe come to its collective view? Does that have

to be determined by the Council of Ministers by 27? Do they give it a

bunny abroad negotiating mandate? -- Michel Barnier a broad. We get the

idea that it is already taking shape, that mandate. Let me go back

to the previous question. There is a lot of lip service being paid to the

continued importance and relevance of British officials in Brussels and

the EU. But what we are seeing is that it is quickly apparent they are

being marginalised. Even in the Parliament they are saying everyone

is a full member until Brexit happens. It is quite clear that

relevance is disappearing very fast to be that is very important for the

UK, which will be part of the EU for many years. In terms of the mandate

that Michel Barnier has, there has been reaction to the Prime

Minister's speech. Looking back to the very first bite simple things

that Angela Merkel was seen after the referendum. -- Politics Europe

the four fundamental freedoms of the EU are not up for negotiation. And

in Paris and Berlin, the does not seem to be significant recognition

of that in London. They have not got the message. These things are not

negotiable. And... It is not like an American Express ad. Mentorship has

its responsibilities. The Prime Minister recognised the importance

of the four freedoms to the rest of the EU. She went back to talking

about a close economic partnership. From the side of the EU we want to

keep open as much of trade as possible. And put it back to the

practical co-operation we have on economic issues like trade in goods,

she mentioned cars and financial services as well. Practical

cooperation. They want to keep... Can I ask you... And I ask you a

question. No, we have not got time. If the government is now ruling out

membership of the single market, why are the four freedoms relevant? They

do not need to be up for negotiation. Because if we are not

going to be a member of the single market then the four freedoms do not

apply. They are not for us. I agree. No, I am asking here in London. I

assume it is one of the reasons she has decided... That is my

understanding as well. It clears these issues. I think it is wrong

that we put immigration above jobs and the economy. And that is what I

am hearing from manufacturers in the West Midlands. They need access to

the single market... When you look at the referendum... Hang on, do you

accept? Let me finish. You are talking about the referendum and I

do not want to do that. Do you accept that if we are not part of

the single market then the four freedoms that are part of the single

market do not need to be part of the negotiations? We have had some

statements from the Prime Minister saying we will have customs

arrangements. We do not know the details of that? We do not know what

that means. Let me go back to David. David, if we are going... If it is

the government's position to go for a Free Trade Agreement, why are the

four freedoms of the single market relevant? What I think is that to

understand if there has been compromising on that side, if the UK

is not willing to live up to those standards, then, in fact, there will

be a cost to leaving membership of the EU. That any trade deal will not

be as preferential, will not have as good an arrangement as the current

arrangement. If they understand that it will not happen for some time. In

any Free Trade Agreement, there is always a clause about movement or

free access with no visa. The Canadian free-trade deal which is

the most recent one does not involve free movement. Let us be very

clear... Can I come back in? What I have heard the chief negotiator for

the European Commission say is not a special deal for the UK, but a deal

that is very this effect, that recognises our economic links, that

wants to form a new partnership, and that is what the Prime Minister has

set out. She has set out her willingness to not put up new

barriers to free trade and manage the economies on both sides to be we

need to start working on the detail of that. That is the tone I have had

out of Brussels. We need to work on that. Let me go back to David. How

much concern is there from Brussels, or do they not think it is a

concern, that the kind of antiestablishment insurgency we have

seen with Brexit and then Donald Trump's election, could well

dominate the important elections in Holland, in France, in Austria,

perhaps in Italy, and almost certainly, elections are taking

place in Germany this year. And that could be the backdrop with worrying

about what is happening on the ground in Europe. There is no

question these political forces, this anti- establishment forces, are

concerned. But interestingly, Donald Trump may be a force that serves to

unify the EU. That if the EU saw some reason to stay unified because

of the upcoming Brexit negotiations, then Donald Trump seems to be giving

even greater urgency or the EU 27 to stick together. I think people are

feeling fairly confident. And so, in fact, I think there is confidence

growing in Brussels that they will make it through these elections OK.

And in a funny way, Donald Trump is creating a unifying force. All

rights. Confidence in the Republican establishment was there that he

would win the primary races as well. We will see whether the Brussels

bureaucrats are better at predicting band the politicians on the other

side of the Atlantic. Thank you for being without. We need to move on.

There has an election in Europe. It was in Strasbourg this week. MEPs

vote for the next president of the European Parliament, an important

position, because he is the Parliament's top dog, which brings

considerable influence behind the scenes. Here is our report. The

moment when Antonio Tajani from the centre-right European people's party

became the new man in charge. Congratulating him, his predecessor,

Martin Schulz, the German Socialists, who is leaving after

five years at the helm, even though his party's candidate, Gianni, was

defeated, in what was a bruising contest. As Martin Schulz exited

stage left, the changing of the guard at European Parliament is

completed. This election was really a battle between two Italians, but

it started off as a contest divided up between six candidates. After

three rounds of voting, it was down to Gianni Patella on the left and

Antonio Tajani on the right. In the end, Mr Antonio Tajani came out on

top. This is a clean sweep for the centre-right on the EU. The

commission is headed up by Juncker and Tusk, all in the EEP. We were

not able to win. But we fought strongly in case the knobbly... And

we will fight again and again and again. -- monopoly. Is Antonio

Tajani? He is a familiar face. But he cut his teeth as a spokesman for

the former Prime Minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi. He is a coalition

builder. He is a very honest person. He keeps his word. You can feel it,

all the different groupings in the European Parliament, if you ask

them, in particular, members of Parliament, what they would say

about him, it is that he is a man that keeps his word.

It is this approach that won in the support of other conservative

groups. I think it would be a better chairman for us in the Parliament.

He has promised to be more of a speaker than a Prime Minister. We

need a neutral conductor of business. And the other thing is

that it is better to have someone from the centre-right in the chair

than a leftist. For those reasons, we came to support Antonio Tajani's

campaign. His in tray is full. Countering the rise of

euroscepticism ahead of elections, coping with new waves of migrants

and wrecks that, although he will not be the man leading the

negotiations on behalf of Parliament. That will be done by a

Liberal MP. How do you think Antonio Tajani will respond in terms of

Brexit? He will say that they are opposed to Brexit and they will

oppose it. They will punish us and expect to see us perform badly. That

is what he will say. Actually, he is far more measured and pragmatic. So

Antonio Tajani will be the man in post you in Parliament in just over

two years time when the sun sets on the UK's negotiations with the EU

over its exit. And Novo Mestos from the remaining states will have a

vote to ratify any deal that has been agreed. So the president of the

commission and another conservative president, Donald task, now a

centre-right Italian MEP, president of the Parliament. Is the right to

taking over the institutions of the EU? I am disappointed that our

candidate, who put up a good fight and was not successful... I think it

is wrong because it EU governments... And who were you

supporting? Patella. It is of concern that all three institutions

are on the centre-right. I do not think it bodes well but more

importantly what concerns me, and I get along quite well with Antonio

Tajani, but I think he is not really a strong candidate in terms of the

challenges that the EU faces this year. Martin Shields has really

increased Parliament role and visibility. Is there not an irony

that a conservative government is taking us out of the EU institutions

just as Conservatives are dominating European Union institutions? In

response, the reason we have a centre-right politician now is

because the centre-right have more votes because the centre-right got

more votes from the public... You mean in Parliament? Yes. They won

more votes in the European elections. That is why he won. I am

pleased to see someone who has said they will be more of a speaker and

list of a Prime Minister. We found Martin Shields very dictatorial. He

overruled many decisions of the committees so the back benches...

Will the new Minister be helpful or unhelpful on Brexit? I voted for him

in the last round because he promised to listen to all of the

Parliament, especially to the conservative performance group and

he promised to play a neutral tone on Brexit, to allow the

negotiation... Part of the deal is that riposte that stays as a chief

negotiator and he has been strengthened. And what Capello was

offering... He was saying that he would take a hostile offer

negotiation. In terms of British interest it would have been better,

given the cost to's position on the UK... That is the Belgian

federalist? He is the leader of one of the groups. He has an agreement

now with the centre-right grouping to change the direction of the EU.

They want a European coastguard. A European defence force... Hold on.

Hold on. And also a European intelligence and investigation

capacity. So if that is the way that these two big groups in the European

Parliament are going, even labour could not support most of that. No.

We were not supporting these candidates. But is that the

direction of Europe now? The eye could not have supported the

Socialist candidate. You have a choice of two, both of whom are

fundamentally federalist. Patella was not federalist. The offer from

Antonio Tajani was to be more of a neutral speaker to allow the

parliament to move on with its post. Just on the role of Gaya, he is not

in the negotiation. He is the chief negotiator and... The two of you are

confusing me here. You say he is not an negotiation and you say he is the

chief negotiator. You can't both be right. Negotiations are conducted in

the European Council and it was the Bonnie is that team. They were

negotiation Parliament. Parliament as a whole has a vote. I am still

not clear but I have run out of time to clarify. We have the latest now

in the series of ROMs profiling EU member states. We have travelled to

fellow of any hour. Where people in -- are getting used to the idea that

their most famous export is now the first Lady of the world. I was born

in Slovenia, a small then Communist country in central Europe. And here

it is. This town had a population of 4.5 thousand. And here you find the

biggest manufacturer of pants in Slovenia. She left and found fame

fortune and a husband in the United States in the mid-19 90s. Since then

her home country has joined Nato, the EU and the euro. I am armed with

a magazine with Melania on the front cover. What do you think about

Melania? A great woman. For me it is not interesting. Nothing was Mike

yeah. Can you imagine that Donald Trump industry visiting that house?

Here they are offering a first Lady tour where you can see her old

school, have famous local salami for lunch. 32 euros per person. At the

bakery they are selling a Trump themed cake. We put white chocolate

colours of the White House. She always wears white so we put white

chocolate and we put gold on the top because it is luxury. Also other

speciality ingredients. It is not exactly Melania mania. Possibly

because her Slovenian lawyers have issued a reminder that her name is a

trademark. The biggest thing that Mrs Trump has done for us is to get

us recognised. So we are respectful about using her name, partly because

her family still live here. And that will continue to be the case in the

future. But surely it is great material for Slovenian comedians? Do

you have a good joke? That she is a Slovenian designed robot who

infiltrates the White House and now we are in charge. We are such a

small country and this was our secret plan because the president of

UEFA is also Slovenian so we are putting people into positions and

waiting to see what happens. Thank you for giving us the heads up.

Celebrations of the inauguration are low-key. The main event is the

annual pruning of the vineyards. And eating Melania cake. Adam Fleming

who is not a robot that you should see his air miles from these

reports. That was from Slovenia. Thank you to our guests for being

with us today and that is it for us now. Thank you for watching and

goodbye to you. Well, the temperatures

through the night have been It has been down to minus seven

degrees, at least in one or two areas, and I think scenes like this

for some of us on Sunday morning.