To politics europe, your regular guide to the top stories in brussels and strasbourg. 0n the programme, as the back secretary accuses the eu of discourteous language will britain get the frictionless trade with europe that they want after brexit if we are not a Customs Union. Angela merkel does a deal with socialist rivals to form a coalition five months after the german elections. How stable while her new government be . And how should the new brussels top eurocrat be chosen, we investigate the spitzenkandidat process. And has the European Parliament voted to abolish summertime . So all that to come, and more, in the next half hour. Joining me fall of it is kevin maguire, the associate editor of the mirror and Camilla Tominey of the express. First our guide to the latest from europe in 60 seconds. Turns out its not just the europe in 60 seconds. Turns out its notjust the brits like to talk about the weather, much of europe has faced freezing temperatures with brazilians even skiing down montmartre and snowfall shutting the avatar. Frosty relations seem to afford in germany as the country images from months of political deepfreeze with Angela Merkel and conservatives finally agreeing a Coalition Deal with the centre left democrats. The European Parliament voted against proposals to create pan european meps that would have allowed voter in finland or spain to be represented by the same meps. The European Parliament also voted to remove one of its Vice President s after he sparked outrage by comparing a fellow polish mp to a nazi collaborator. European commission bigwig john claude yunker on the other hand clearly feels shami when he rattled the affair of his chief negotiator before strasberg debate on the future of europe. Get off, jean claude right, lets talk about germany and the coalition that may or may not be secured. What do you think will happen . I think it will be pitches given a lot of ground. The stb which didnt do very well in the election are extracting their price. She is not where she wants, she is still chancellor but not as commanding. All political careers have to end in failure at some time and you can feel she is in a much later stage. I would not say write her off. A p pa re ntly would not say write her off. Apparently the polls say she is still in a relatively strong position. Rather than the party. But shes not as strong as she wants, it will still be Emmanuel Macron in france and her in germany calling the shots and we will know that during the negotiations on brexit. If the Coalition Goes ahead with the sdp, the labour party in germany, and the members have to vote on that, where does it leave this far right group within the bundestag that secured many streets in the election . It still leaves them knocking on the door and they are still a threat, Angela Merkel has had a wake up call that some of her policies have not been popular. I think its a massive concession that theyve lost the finance ministry to their coalition partners. Looking forward to brexit i was thinking, will Angela Merkel be thinking, having gone through this tussle to secure an agreement, having gone through this tussle to secure an agreement, that she is compromised so much that she will be tough on the uk when it comes to the eu . Who knows a state of mind. There was a bit of irony about her having agoat was a bit of irony about her having a go at theresa may for not being able to make up her mind, just weeks ago when she has office in this precarious political position. Except germany often goes through months of Decision Making when it comes to coalitions, its not unusual, although it is unusual to go onto this long and to struggle in the way she has too tried to secure a coalition. Hazard weakened germanys position more broadly in the eu . I dont think so, germany is such an industrial and economic powerhouse. With the electoral system, the additional member system, the additional member system, we were one of the countries that posted after the second world war. It works towards coalitions, it is just who is war. It works towards coalitions, it isjust who is in war. It works towards coalitions, it is just who is in that coalition. Youre right, its taken longer than we thought, but it took time anyway. The germans work these things through. You just feel that she herself is not a commanding figure although compared to theresa may, i think theresa may would love to be in Angela Merkel s position theyve got a lot in common. Both from a conservative background, they both have religious fervour about them, similar kind of figure in terms of being isolated on the world stage, it is interesting. Maybe they should get together over a coffee and discuss it. Kaffee und kuchen together. Talks are moving onto the transition stage. 0n together. Talks are moving onto the transition stage. On sunday the government confirmed we are categorically leaving the Customs Union and it is not our policy to stay in a Customs Union. Visiting london on monday chief eu negotiator Michel Barnier responded by saying that barriers to goods and services are not affordable. He added that the time has come to make a choice. It is still not clear if the uk will stay in the Single Market or that Customs Union in any transition period. A leaked draft of the Withdrawal Agreement suggested uks access to the Single Market would be restricted during the transition phaseif restricted during the transition phase if there is a dispute after brexit. Brexit secretary david davis accused the eu of using discourteous language in the document and brexiteers claimed that continued membership of the Customs Union and Single Market would render britain a vassal state. Remainers and some business groups have called for urgent Government Action to address uncertainty with the british chambers of commerce this week. That their patience is wearing thin. We are joined their patience is wearing thin. We arejoined now from their patience is wearing thin. We are joined now from amsterdam their patience is wearing thin. We arejoined now from amsterdam by touch Mep Paul Tang this week described Theresa Mays Brexit strategy as stupidity, and from brussels by conservative mep dan dalton. Welcome to you both. Paul tang, first, do you regret calling theresa mays strategy on brexit stupidity . Well, no. I still think it is stupid. There are huge problems with exiting and not the eu but the Customs Union. The Customs Unions will lead to a hard border, leaving the Customs Union will lead toa leaving the Customs Union will lead to a hard border between ireland and Northern Ireland that has been an easy before. Moreover, it will hamper the trades and transport of goods and it will take a big swing at the factories in england. It will hit the Blue Collar Workers that still work in factories. They are the ones who pay and i think thats stupid. Are they the ones who pay for these ideological choices . Dan dalton, what was your response to hearing bad language used about the strategy and do you think the conservative government should keep some sort of Customs Union relation on the table . No, i think there is a misunderstanding about the Customs Union. It is often portrayed as of staying in the Customs Union when you leave the eu is the status quo. It is not. It would mean, the day we left the eu yet stayed in the Customs Union wed and trade access to all the countries that the trade has done trade with all over the world in addition to not being able to do deals ourselves. Staying in the Customs Union means eu are only trade policy, wed have no agreement with any other country and we couldnt get one. So the only option in the uk is to leave the Customs Union despite the fact that it has troubles about and it is the only option on the table. Do you agree paul tang that we would lose access to any of the third country agreements made with the eu, we would be a vassal state . Negative. No. I believe the agreements are about services. Much more important than growing part of the economy. This is what is at stake the future relations, i think Great Britain after leaving the eu can make trade agreements especially on surfaces. Coming back one moment, turkey and the eu are not best friends, right, but turkey is still part of the Customs Union. Its an economical reason for that, because this is a way to trade and transport goods. Dan, is it your understanding that britain remains in the Customs Union during the transition period . M hasnt been fully discussed. The government has said it needs to address the issue just talked about, like losing access to third countries for export. Do you say like the International Trade minister earlier this week that the government still hasnt got a position on whether britain will stay in the Customs Union, despite the fact that david davis says we will remain on the same terms during the implementation period . Who might give answer the question yourself. Can you say it . Nevill we will stay on the same terms as currently between needs to address this issue which is the key issue that we suddenly lose access to all our third Country Markets that have done deals with the eu. Thats the issue that needs to be addressed. If we get that i suspect we will stay in for the transition. So the position, i take for the transition. So the position, itakea for the transition. So the position, i take a point that its a negotiation, it hasnt been cleared up negotiation, it hasnt been cleared up as to whether britain would still have access to countries outside the eu who have made agreements with the eu, is at the position that during the transition that britain would stay in the Customs Union . Am not a spokesman for the British Government. If we can address this issue with regards to those third countries and the ability to do our own trade deal. And i understand the government is open to staying in for that period providing those provisos are met. This is not a negotiation is whatever has been said by Michel Barnier when he says that the uk leaving the single union and the customs market will mean border checks at the Northern Ireland frontier. He says it is his position, he does not mean it as fa ct . Position, he does not mean it as fact . Leaving the supermarket and the Customs Union. No, i would say it is logic. I havent seen the plans for a border between ireland and Northern Ireland. The Customs Union is the option on the table and i wouldnt throw it away if i were Great Britain. Its notjust a matter of negotiation, it is also a matter of negotiation, it is also a matter of negotiation, it is also a matter of logic. Just take a look at the map. You can try to agree new trade agreements but lets face it, the uk and the eu are pretty close geographically, we logical trading partners so the First Priority should be, if you want to protect jobs and industry, find this trade agreement with the eu. You have said, dan, you are nota spokesperson for the British Government, are you happy with their negotiating position. Government, are you happy with their negotiating positionlj government, are you happy with their negotiating position. I think that government has been clear. Negotiating position. I think that government has been cleanm negotiating position. I think that government has been clear. It hasnt been clear because you dont seem sure of what the position is. And clear, im just saying sure of what the position is. And clear, imjust saying im not representing the government, im a conservative mep but im not privy to negotiations. My understanding is clear that the government 5 position means we would leave the Single Market and Customs Union and negotiate as close, fiction is trade is possible for a future relationship with the eu. Is their right way to go, paul tang, that shows that britain will be punished if it doesnt stick to the letter of the agreement, that restrictions will be placed in britain in terms of access to the Single Market. Could that smooth the way to successful negotiations . No, normally it doesnt. I know how words from Michel Barnier are perceived in the uk, that is u nfortu nate, perceived in the uk, that is unfortunate, its also in perception, i would say, its pointing out the options that are on the table and personally i dont think the British Government has been clear on that. I would love the British Government to be clear. It never ceases to amaze me that it seems more divided than the 27 other states you say that but does Michel Barnier speakfor the states you say that but does Michel Barnier speak for the entire European Union . 0h, barnier speak for the entire European Union . Oh, i barnier speak for the entire European Union . 0h, ithink we barnier speak for the entire European Union . Oh, i think we have lost. Weve got you back, can you still hear me, paul tang . |j lost. Weve got you back, can you still hear me, paultang . I can hear you. Repeat the question, you say britain is more divided than the eu 27. But does barnier speak for the netherlands in terms of the draft eu text . Ca n netherlands in terms of the draft eu text . Can we imagine the state where they would want to put up barriers to trade with the uk . They dont wa nt to trade with the uk . They dont want to make it more difficult, do they . I think they will be differences but they havent been exploited by the British Government. I expect there to be differences, where you dont see a difference is that you cannot cherry pick. Thats the fear that keeps the eu 27 together. But when there are real choices on the table i expect there will be some sort of agreement between the 27. Listening to dan dalton what is your impression of this apparent confusion about whether britain will remain in the Customs Union during the transition period . The lancaster has speech and florence made it clear she said we would leave the Single Market and the Customs Union. At the moment there are thrashing out the end of it so what is she going to do, go against the briefing of hammond and others before she has the cabinet consensus, only then did face more counter briefing. This is only the transition period. This is what is confusing. You are asking as if i am responsible there is a claim that david davis has lost control to 0llie robinson seems to be briefing that he does want britain to stay in the Customs Union. Theres a problem with men, isnt there. Is itjust a political move by the eu trying to crank up the pressure, cancelling meetings they were going to have with david davis, describing his language is discourteous, is them trying to do let to exert political pressure . Of course, the 27 of them are looking after their interests like the uk is supposed to do. It is as clear as a drunken mass brawl in as clear as a drunken mass brawl in a bar after midnight. Theresa may has a cabinet, of touring party, she might think she knows what she wants but you cant get it which is why we are in this silly row over what we are in this silly row over what we are asking for in this transition period so if you dont know what we are asking for how can we ever get it will find out, wont we . Paul tang, dan dalton, thank you. Now, the spitzenkandidat process, what do you mean, you havent heard of it, the world rolls off the tongue of mps as readily as brexit. Its all about choosing europes top bureaucrat. When Jean Claude Juncker comes here, he sits here, he got his job through the spitzenkandidat will lead candidate system which says the european president to be the person put forward by the political grouping that does best of the European Parliament elections. In 2014 and that was the centre right eep, juncker was their man and this is why this is now his chair. It was opposed at the time by david cameron, who said the choice should belong to leaders alone. No meps say they would reject anyone who was not a spitzenkandidat. The eep group will not accept any candidate for the future Commission President who was not presented during the campaign as lead candidate of the Democratic Party and can bring together a qualified majority of the new elected European Parliament. Together a qualified majority of the new elected European Parliamentm stores visit the liberals tried to go further, a directly elected Commission President rather than someone chosen by party bosses like last time in strasbourg this week. They were never elected by citizens of europe. They were just appointed, in this case, we have juncker, Jean Claude Juncker, appointed by the eep which was the Biggest Party. So we would get away from that and people would stop blaming us for democratic deficiencies if they can actually pick from the list and thoughtful person. Others think it should be jumped altogether. The European Union is the union of Member States. And its taking away some Member States. I think its the wrong message. And from our group we avoided this system completely and we have even put our spitzenkandidat on the campaign. Now the debate moves from the corridors of parliament to the meeting of eu leaders at the end of the month, where there is a split between opponents and supporters like the croatian Prime Minister who i chanced upon doing a bit of gladhanding. I witnessed this exercise in 2014 when i was leading the list of my Political Party and my political family in croatia. I think it was a cohesive element for the elections, i feel we should continue with this concept also, how are you, good to see a so i supported and again today. Surprise who is this, somebody rumoured to fa ncy who is this, somebody rumoured to fancy being the spitzenkandidat for the centre right. What do you think of spitzenkandidats . Brexit, brexit. Sticking to the dayjob for now. It is all about brexit, thats adam fleming reporting. Joined to talk about the spitzenkandidat from brussels, political europes maia de la baume. I hope you can hear me, maia. How much backing does this have, this idea of the Biggest Party in the parliament having much more say over the candidate for the new Commission President . Um the European Parliament clearly supports the idea, because it basically is behind the idea. And the Commission Also stands behind that idea because you know it is a way to strengthen democracy in the eu. The main challenge is to european countries, because a lot of them think that it would reduce their power, small Member States also think that it would favour big countries. So its very. The process has drawn a lot of criticism in the eu. Some leaders still think that its not very necessary and it is far from the concerns of eu citizens about the eu. David cameron was famously not happy about the idea ofJean Claude Juncker becoming Commission President , he didnt want to lose the power that nation states have of influencing the decision, who else is against the idea of the parliament having more influence on this . The most surprising country against it is france, this is surprising because the french president has always declared and supported an election process that would be more democratic and has a lwa ys would be more democratic and has always been very keen to try to make europe much more transparent and democratic. Basically it is surprising from him. His position is that the spitzenkandidat would clearly favour the party in the European Parliament that has won the most seats, which means the eep. Is the conservative party, not the party of the french president. We know that he never said it publicly that clearly we know that he doesnt like that because it is not his party. That is funny, isnt it, politicians always like an idea u nless politicians always like an idea unless it does not go the way they want in terms of support what about directly electing the president , will that idea ever catch on . That i think might happen someday but clearly not now. It wouldnt be popular at all . The spitzenkandidat is already an improvement, because for so many years it was decided among eu leaders in backroom deals, and the parliament was not involved. Its seen as a big step forward now that the parliament could have the right to elect the candidate. Maybe inafew right to elect the candidate. Maybe in a few years there will be an elected president of the commission. All right, maia de la baume, thank you. Did meps vote to abolish summertime this week . They didnt but they did ask the European Commission to consult on stopping the practice of changing the clocks between the summer and winter months. Currently the eu decides when the clock should go forward and when the clock should go forward and when they should go back. One italian mep for the whole thing was a waste of time and money. Here we are talking about should we abolish or not abolished summertime arrangements. Perhaps i can makea summertime arrangements. Perhaps i can make a proposal to colleagues in the open parliament, and that is, that we move the fingers of the clock one hour back, and that would mean saving, the european citizens, for italian citizens, saving 250,000 euros we couldnt give active citizens. Your thoughts . Id love to do it, so that the time on my clock boiler would not be wrong for half the year. Weve discussed it in this country, it comes up now and again. 0f country, it comes up now and again. Of course i can see the argument for more sunlight in the mornings so kids go to school safer but it is a pain. What do you think. My children, three under nine already wired into the system so they are getting up a bit more early and i think we need the clocks to go forward to keep them in bed longer so i think we are wired to this system, we have been for decades and people would not take kindly to being dictated to by the eu. We could do it ourselves. Ive heard brexit extremists saying, just do it, it will be much simpler. Heard brexit extremists saying, just do it, it will be much simplerlj like the way you both got in your calling cards, remainiacs and brick streamers do you think this consultation will ever happen . Board with consultations, no one wants it. In that case i will not let you consult and i will say that is the end, thank you to all my guests, especially to camilla and kevin for being the guests of the day. From all of us had a ditch mac, bye bye. Beautiful weather now with crisp sunshine, of the snow showers which will continue across northern and Western Areas for the rest of today, and it it might as well. Not only snow, hail and rain and it it might as well. Not only snow, hailand rain as and it it might as well. Not only snow, hail and rain as well. These speckles on the satellite image, i run the sequence again, you can see them, these are the wintry showers streaming in from the far north, from the arctic, from iceland just above my head and also greenland. Lets look at the weather to the here and now, temperatures around three or 4 degrees, at best in the north, six or seven in the south. Denied winds will drop and skies we re denied winds will drop and skies were clear, still snow showers, most affecting western coasts of scotland, one or two in Northern Ireland. Right across the country temperatures will dip to below freezing and integral areas as low as 5, it will be a cold night. First thing in the morning on monday a lot of frost, we are in between other systems on monday, wallace in scandinavia, another one approaching will eventually reach us but not until late on monday so on monday ahead of this weather front which will bring snow, it is sunny but will bring snow, it is sunny but will turn windy later in the day across Western Areas. At three oclock in the afternoon, 8 degrees in london, 5 degrees in edinburgh. Monday evening that weather front approaches, with snow falling across ireland and this weather front is going to prove troublesome for us because on tuesday it will be bang in the middle of the British Isles just in time for rush hour. Rain and snow mixing. Snow across the pennines in scotland, a covering of snow in the low lands, a really tricky start to do is take, later in the afternoon, its raining in the south east, east anglia and eastern counties but across western and Northern Areas we have sunshine. Wednesday, another weather system comes through, more weather fronts, mo isobars, more wins. A messy week. 0n mo isobars, more wins. A messy week. On wednesday see the rain and the strong winds blowing into the south west and wales, snow across the north, this time it will be slightly milder air, so north, this time it will be slightly milderair, so any north, this time it will be slightly milder air, so any wintry weather will be pushed towards the north. See in the south way too mild, the snow, 10 degrees in cardiff, in edinburgh around five celsius. This mix of rain and snow is continuing the foreseeable future. This is bbc news. Im shaun ley. The headlines at three as 0xfam admit they failed in moral leadership the government warns uk charities that funding will be withdrawn if they fail to co operate with the authorities in cases of Sexual Exploitation by staff. The sector has to step up in terms of tackling what is an industry that has been targeted by individuals. By paedophiles. Yes. They are targeting this because of the chaos that we work in. A russian passenger plane carrying 71 people has crashed shortly after taking off from moscow. All those on board are believed to have been killed. The foreign secretary, borisjohnson, holds talks in myanmar about the return of rohingya muslims. Also in the next hour. Great britains Andrew Musgrave makes history at the Winter Olympics in pyeonchang. Finishing 7th place in the mens skiathlon the best performance by a briton in an olympic Cross Country event