Following that deal to move talks on to the next stage. But by midweek she had her first defeat in the commons, when mps voted to give parliament a legal guarantee of a vote on the final deal struck in brussels. The European Parliament passed a motion approving a move to phase two but not all mps were supportive. Theresa the appeaser has given in on virtually everything. Elsewhere, the new polish Prime Minister has said his dream is to rechristianise the eu, cornerfor a return to proper values in an interview with the catholic tv channel. The European Commission president , jean claude juncker, is facing an investigation over a case involving an alleged illegal wiretap when he was Prime Minister of luxembourg. And Emmanuel Macron hosted 50 countries and one cool kid at a Climate Change summit in brussels, warning the world is losing the battle. A notable absentee was the us president , donald trump, but dont worry, Arnold Schwarzenegger was there instead. Now, one of the stories we saw there was about the new polish Prime Minister, who wants to rechristianise the eu. What do you think about that . I think poland feels it is in the sort of no mates category in europe. It has such a big economy. It has turned inwards, it has problems within its legal system, its politics has become rather hideous and its views of minorities are not good. I am just going to say that it is funny that we are now focusing on it, when we had this argument about this when germany opposed turkish entry. It is an in fairness to poland clause. Angela merkel had a strong sort of christian identity and you didnt have to be christian to go to church, but there was a christian underpinning to the idea of the eu, which historically was true. That is one of the reasons why the germans, austrians and others kept the turks out. It is interesting that has come back and it does not feel like it is the right language to be talking about the eu. Do you agree . As ann said, it seems a far cry from the days when we were talking about accession for turkey. Obviously that became an issue during the Eu Referendum and now we have a new Prime Minister in poland saying that he wants the European Union to return to its traditional christian routes. As a good Roman Catholic boy i ought to welcome this but i am alarmed because the politics in poland has turned very far to the right and i think it has got an unhealthy undertone, it sounds like it could be a racist undertone so i would be quite concerned. Not good for minorities. Now in the last hour, European Union leaders have allowed brexit talks to progress to the next phase. Talks will move into the uks eventual relationship with the eu. Lots up for discussion, including trade, transition, security, justice and the list goes on. The bbcs adam fleming caught up with negotiator Michel Garnier after the news broke. Are you happy its sufficient progress . It is a big achievement. You going to get new guidelines . Are you looking forward to that . When do you think we will have the transition period sorted and ready . There will be a transition beginning next year. When will we know for sure . Will we know by march when it is . Lets see. And, joining me now to discuss all of this is the mep seb dance, deputy leader of labour in the European Parliament. He is here in the studio. And the conservative leader in the European Parliament, ashley fox mep, joins me from bristol. Ashley fox, first of all, what do you want to see in terms of britains position and status within the eu during the Implementation Phase . Well, we want a deep and special partnership with the European Union. During that transition period, i think we want to maintain equivalence with the Customs Union, equivalence with the Single Market, so that during that two year period, firms do not need to adjust their rules again. Does that mean still taking rules from the European Court ofjustice and freedom of movement . I think that is something to be negotiated. And what is your view . It is something to be negotiated. I would expect freedom of movement to continue from the two years after we leave to the end of the transition period. Seb, it says that needs to be negotiated, so formalising the transition period and the status of britain will be part of that. It also requires the approval of the European Parliament. What is the mood in brussels and strasbourg from european mps . I suppose the mood is one of caution, a slight air of relief that we have managed to get some progress now obviously, because. Yes, thats being felt widely. There was a stage towards the end of last week where there were really panic stations. It looked bad. So, there is a sense of progress but ultimately the government has caved in on so much that i think the expectation is effectively that the transition period will be another example of that. The only difference is that we wont be able to make any rules, we willjust be applying them. In what way has the government caved in . Well, if you look at phase one, full regulatory alignment, that is the post transition stage. That effectively means that the Customs Union, and a lot of the Single Market. To get regulatory alignment in the areas covered by the good friday agreement, you must implement the Single Market and Customs Union. We will not have a say in those rules. Do you accept that there is possibility that britain remains in the Customs Union beyond transition for many years . No, i think seb dance is talking nonsense. We will leave the Customs Union and we will leave the Single Market and we will have a bespoke agreement between the United Kingdom and the eu. It is interesting that the italian Prime Minister, gentiloni, has already said that we need a tailor made solution for the United Kingdom. I have to say it must be really difficult to be a labour mep a labour mep at the moment, as you have to be permanently miserable, talking down the country. Im not miserable. Miss may has done really well and she is a formidable politician. I would like to know what magical way of squaring this circle you have come up with, because that is what the text says. Unless you can come up with a way of achieving full alignment through some other means than the Customs Union and the Single Market, and incidentally youve had 18 months to come up with this magic solution and nobody has. Im not miserable. I am fascinated as to how this magic trick is going to be performed. What is your response . Seb has not read the agreement because what it says is, we will maintain alignment for those areas where there is north south cooperation. Look at the 12 areas. Some are fairly minor like waterways and tourism, the two big ones are agriculture and energy. There is already a Single Energy market on the island of ireland, and this will not change. The challenge is related to agriculture. We absolutely will not be staying in the Customs Union. Isnt the truth that labour wants to remain in all but name within the Single Market and the Customs Union, and actually you welcome the debate around this issue of full alignment regarding the border between ireland and Northern Ireland . This is labours game plan, not to recognise the referendum outcome. Say that all you like, but i want to stay in the European Union. I will not make any bones about that. If the public decide that what they get at the end of this process is not what they voted for on the 23rd june, it is a reasonable case to say, is this what you want to do . It is not up to me, it is up to me to make the case. Is that not labours strategy . Labours strategy is to minimise the damage of what brexit will do, to take a completely different approach to what the tories are doing, which is pursue at all costs a hard brexit. That is not in the countrys interest. There is a difficulty. In the transition period you wont be able to strike any Free Trade Agreements with other countries, non eu countries, that is correct, isnt it. I anticipate we will be able to get into trade negotiations but you are correct that, until the transition period is concluded, which i would imagine to be the First Quarter of 2021, the new trade arrangements cannot take effect. Do you know what the governments position will be, in terms of the vision for that trade relationship between britain and the eu . David davis described it as canada plus plus plus. When you look at our Free Trade Agreement between the eu and canada, you will see that 98 of tariff lines are abolished and set at zero. We see no reason why it cant be zero and then we want an ambitious Service Chapter on top of that. Isnt that the problem . The deal over services, when you think of what a major part of the british Economy Services actually make up, and canada, and i take your point about plus plus plus plus, but the deal there does not include services. We start with an easier position because we are in regulatory alignment with the eu. 0ur Financial Services providers have equivalent regulation to the eu. That is the point. We are coming from a totally different starting point to canada. Therefore, this idea that it is going to be impossible, it might take eight years is wishful thinking. No. That is exactly the point, so we have regulatory alignment because of course we are in the eu. Those regulations are decided by the eu. Do we really think that we will be deciding with the european Financial Services regulations will be once we are outside of the institutions that set those . Of course we wont. This is not about taking back control at all. Do you think that the arch brexiteers within the conservative party are going to accept this idea of being part of the European Court ofjustice for quite a few years to come, being rule takers, in that sense . The Supreme Court has First Priority and will decide whether to refer to the European Court ofjustice. Most of them they are unhappy about it but they have accepted it. I think labour are in difficulty on this. John mcdonnell said the other day he wants to be in a different Single Market. Labour keep changing their position. I think they want to keep us in the Single Market and Customs Union in which case, there is no point leaving the eu. Some of us do. You say there is no point. What do you think the phase one agreement has done in terms of the Customs Union . Ashley fox talks about north south alignment and the dup ensured that it was east west. Everything in the good friday agreement a huge chunk of what the brexiters said wed do trade deals on is now impossible. We will not be deciding the rules. How do you see full alignment influencing our future relationship . In a nutshell, it will dictate how closely aligned our rules and regulations and standards are to the ones of the eu. It is a great phrase. It reminds me of variable geometry. It can be made into anything that you want it to be. The position that you are coming from, you say that it makes no difference, if you have full alignment you should not bother, but of course you think that because you would not have bothered anyway. Remain have been open about that anyway. With ireland, given the difficulty that ireland presents with the internal border, you need a language which allows people to make deals which is not saying you might as welljust accept Customs Union and the Single Market because you dont have to be very far on the brexit curve to say that these things are not acceptable. I think that you are right, its a bit of a fudge. Your colleague on the other side in brussels has a point. You have to come up with instruments which are going to make this at least less likely to lead to any future big problems, even if you cannot use it to cut every problem through right now. Do you think the eu blinked in the end, in order to get to the end of phase one . I dont think either side blinked. These were difficult negotiations. Mrs may showed herself to be a formidable negotiator and we reached an equitable compromise. These are the most difficult negotiations that have been undertaken by the United Kingdom since the end of the second world war. Mrs may is doing a good job. Do you think david davis is a formidable negotiator . Yes, i do. I think is doing a good job too. Its a shame that we have opposition and politicians who pretend to support the country. They take delight in every small difficulty. Why didnt you vote for the motion to approve progress to phase two . You say we are opposing it. Why didnt your meps vote for it . We voted in favour specifically of the paragraph that called of the talks. Why not the motion . It was a whole load of nonsense put in by a man trying to impose his agenda on face to the talks. That is not the purpose of the European Parliament. Thats it for the moment. There have always been tensions in the eu between federalists who want more integration in the block and those who value Member States sovereignty above all else. Britain traditionally sat in the second but, now that we are leaving, could plans for european federalism be moving ahead at pace . Today, at the European Council summit, bidders are expected to discuss ways to deepen the eurozone integration. 0n the table is the possible creation of a budget for the eurozone, as well as a finance minister to represent the block. Earlier this week, the European Council adopted the creation of a Permanent Defence and Security Cooperation network, known as pesco. 25 eu states have signed the defence pact, with only malta, denmark and the United Kingdom choosing not to take part. Pesco will integrate military planning, Weapons Development and operations that will rely on 5 billion euros defence fund. Last week, the leader of germanys centre left social democrats, or sbd, and former European Parliament president , called for the creation of a United States of europe. Shultz told sdp delegates that he wanted eu Member States to sign off on a constitutional treaty, permitting them to take steps towards a federal europe. Do you think it will catch on, this idea of a United States of europe . It has always been there in the minds of federalists. It depends on what you call a federalist, but it has been there. That is in a vision of europe stretching back over 20 years. I spent time in germany recently, looking at Angela Merkels situation. Schultz, sitting there on 20. 5 of the vote, dont forget, he has had a very bad election, he needs to have something that, from his perspective, and he is very pro european, he wants to offer something very bold and visionary, and i think his view is that you go full tilt for it, that helps you get on with mr macron, and you can move something forward. Do you think greater integration is the way that it is heading . I think in many areas, yes, in many areas, no. We probably will see the emergence of a multi speed europe. Do you support the idea . I think inevitably people will go further in some areas, not as far in others. At the end of the day the European Union is a union of states and it is the Member States themselves that decide how far they are comfortable at any given point. There will always be federalists and those where the sovereignty of Member States is above all else, but the buck stops with the Member States. That conflict will always be there. As a result of that conflict then, do you actually see it happening in terms of having a budget minister, if you like, and there is already a sort of foreign minister, but also that sort of close co operation on defence. In the end, National Values will trump, wont they, for many countries in the eu . I would agree. My concern over this structured defence cooperation is its set up as a rival to nato. If it results in the european nation states spending more on defence, that is to be welcomed. But what we dont want is several more divisions of bureaucrats who dont actually add to defence capability. Doesnt it make sense to have those countries remaining within the eu coming closer together . For the eurozone, youre probably right. The euro was set up initially very badly with economies that werent convergent and too many states, so weve seen many problems. There probably needs to be a greater fiscal capacity for the eurozone. I am delighted that the United Kingdom is not part of that. Would you like to be part of it . If britain were to stay in the eu, would you have been a fan of being part of that closer integration . In defence, it makes sense given the level of threat that we have, but we need to counter this idea that this somehow undermines nato. Britain and france have done operations under a joint eu flag. That has not undermined our contribution to nato. It has not undermined the security of the north atlantic trade Treaty Organisation in any way shape orform. You can have multiple layers of defence without undermining existing layers. Would it be a good thing . No. If this language had been around before the referendum, with schultz and other people talking about a United States of europe, the referendum would have been even bigger for leave. People not like the idea of brussels taking even more power away from sovereign parliaments. If there a problem with germany, or it seems like a diktat from martin schultz, to control everything within the eu. Yes, there is a problem with germany. They run the whole show. That is what it is. That is the fact for germany running the show. Germany is obviously the economic powerhouse. The french end of the Franco German relationship is not at its strongest this is not the position of Angela Merkel and the cdu is likely to lead the government going forward. You ta ke offe nce the government going forward. You take offence at the idea that germany runs the show. Absolutely. Germany runs the show. Absolutely. Germany is the largest economy, and had we stayed in the eu we were on course to beat that, but you could then have said britain runs the show, but well never know. The idea that germany runs the show is absurd. Looking from german eyes, we have the biggest military power in the European Union leaving at a time when we have threats from russia, when we have threats from russia, when we have less than concrete assurances fioiti when we have less than concrete assurances from our when we have less than concrete assurances from our good allies, the United States under president trump. There is a lot of nervousness. We have anglo German Military corporation. We will continue to have that. But a european layup of integration on defence makes sense. In the run up to the referendum, David Cameron spent a lot of time trying to get concessions and talking to mrs merkel, because that is where the power lay. Thank you both very much. Were doners almost dollars . A vote in the European Parliament this week seeking to ban phosphates from european meat fell just short. There were three votes and the british meps did their way to lee bit to save kebabs. Was a flavour of the debate. Instead of saying the eu is banning kebabs, thats not right, the media and companies should be asking the commission why the commission is making our food less commission why the commission is making ourfood less healthy and worse, because that is ultimately what the story is about. The greens and social democrats are simply spreading panic. The reason why that is not the case is that phosphates are allowed in many foods, but they are allowed in many foods, but they a re naturally are allowed in many foods, but they are naturally present in many foods. If they were such a great risk to human health, we would all have been ill long ago. Imjoined by the founder of the british kebabs awards. Are you relieved . We are. It was awards. Are you relieved . We are. It was we welcome the decision to allow ke ba bs was we welcome the decision to allow kebabs to be made in the way they have been made. What phosphates used for in making dollar kebabs . In making doner kebabs. They are used in frozen kebabs. The majority of shops use home made ones which dont have phosphates. It is to keep the meat moist and give some flavour to it. Its an additive, and there are many other used in other industries. If it was only in a small number, would it have had much impact if it was banned . Villa not a big impact here, but in germany, the frozen dunnock about industry is bigger. In britain, we have more ta keaway bigger. In britain, we have more takeaway is, so that would have been a bigger problem. But the frozen doner kebabs is still part of our industry and it would have been bad to ban using phosphates. How unhealthy is it to have phosphates as part of the process . The European FoodSafety Authority did an assessment in 2013 and they confirmed there is no health risk for any products using phosphates. It doesnt cause direct health risks to consumers. Are you celebrating with a big plate of kebabs . Of course. Im glad to hear it. Did you bring one along . No. We are all feeling hungry. What was your view . Im nota feeling hungry. What was your view . Im not a big eater of doner kebabs but if you are happy, im happy. Do you eat kebabs . I found a lot of ke ba bs you eat kebabs . I found a lot of kebabs eating for my teenage sons so, if we can avoid the ones with additives, i would so, if we can avoid the ones with additives, iwould be so, if we can avoid the ones with additives, i would be very happy. British meps helped the industry here, so they are following a bunch of things in the eu. Two more years to go and they can carry on doing good work and then it will finish. You cant underestimate the work they are doing at the moment. Did you do any lobbying . We didnt do lobbying but we knew our meps would be sensible. And what made you think that exactly . They have been doing great work for many years. That exactly . They have been doing great work for many yearslj that exactly . They have been doing great work for many years. I think hes probably a kebabs eater. Thank you to all my guests. From all of us, goodbye. Hello. Its been a chilly start across central and eastern parts of the country, with mist and fog around. Further west, outbreaks the country, with mist and fog around. Furtherwest, outbreaks of rain moving in. Slightly milder, and this rain band is going to continue eastwards through the afternoon. So disappointing all and all across england and wales tightly packed isobars, so quite breezy as the rain moves through. A touch milder than of late, but it wont feel like that. For scotland and Northern Ireland, behind the rain band, conditions should improve nicely with plenty of sunshine. 0ne conditions should improve nicely with plenty of sunshine. One or two showers in the north and west of scotland, and cooler behind that rain. For parts of wales and the south west of england, we will see about nine or 10 degrees, but it will not feel mild because of the rain, and cold in the east of england with temperatures in the low single figures so, with the breeze, its going to feel disappointing. Wet for the premier League Football matches this afternoon with outbreaks of rain, but starting to peter out as we go through the afternoon, turning a bit drier. The same for the scottish premiership match, where we should see some more brightness as the game continues. That rain eventually clears away from the south and east of the country this evening and overnight, and the wind is light, the skies are clear and it will turn chilly across the board, a touch of frost in central and Northern Areas and some mist and fog as well. Slightly less cold in the south west with more cloud. We start the week on a final note, down to a ridge of High Pressure which will bring those light winds. A chilly start, a bit of frost around and maybe some ice, but mist and fog should gradually clear and we are looking at plenty of sunshine. Some cloud pouring into Northern Ireland and western scotland, a bit more red breeze as well, and some cloud into the south west with temperatures of 9 degrees. A chilly day. The chilly air moves away and its going to be marred for the next few days, is pushing in from the atlantic, but bringing a lot of cloud, but its going to be very mild, with temperatures close to double figures in many areas. This is bbc news. Im shaun ley. The headlines at three. An investigation is under way following a multi crash vehicle in central birmingham in which six people were killed and a man is critically injured. Police described the scene as harrowing. All of our thoughts are with the families of those that are injured and deceased at this time, especially in the run up to christmas. Plans to automatically enrol hundreds of thousands of young people in workplace pensions for the first time, to help them save for retirement. Sirius out of military savings, the report warns defence will fail to pay for new ships, and weapons. Englands ashes hopes are fading captainjoe root one of four men out already with still a day to bat to save the series. Also in the next hour, prince harry takes on a new