Britains Prime Minister has tried to inject new energy into the brexit talks, with a distinctly warmer tone in a key speech in italy. Theresa may says she wants the uk to be the eus strongest friend and partner, and has called for a two year transition deal after britain officially leaves the eu, saying the uk will pay its financial obligations, though no sum was mentioned. Theresa may choose to set out her plans in the city of florence, from where our political editor, laura kuenssberg, sent this report. Waiting, waiting and waiting. Its months since the Prime Minister gave anything away on brexit. And if youre in a hurry to disentangle completely, you might just have to wait some more. She came to florence to confirm that for as long as two years after were technically out, not that much might change. A period of implementation would be in our mutual interest and that is why im proposing that there should be such a period after the uk leaves the eu. Clearly people, businesses and Pub
Welcome to hardtalk, im stephen sackur. Has the eu got its mojo back . After a bleak decade of economic stagnation, internal dysfunction and public discontent, officials in brussels claim the tide has turned, but is there really a renewed appetite for deeper european integration while britain is still fumbling for the exit door . My guest is former italian Prime Minister, eu commissioner and ardent integrationist mario monti. Are reports of the eus revival somewhat premature . Mario monti, welcome to hardtalk. Pleasure. Why is there a new integrationist spirit abroad in the European Union . I dont quite understand it. Last year i was writing articles and giving speeches on the process of disintegration of the eu. Which looked very real as a prospect. Which looked very real. The main reason why it looked real last year was, in my view, the cynical behaviour of most heads of governments of Member States concerning the eu. They went to brussels to take together decisions supposedly in the
And that is why im proposing that there should be such a period after the uk leaves the eu. Clearly people, businesses and Public Services should only have to plan for one set of changes in the relationship between the uk and the eu. So during the implementation period, access to one anothers markets should continue on current terms. And during that time well keep paying billions into the eu budget, but the transition wont be longer than two years under a so called double lock. And at the heart of these arrangements there should be a clear double lock. A guarantee that there will be a period of implementation, giving businesses and people alike the certainty that they will be able to prepare for the change and a guarantee that this implementation period will be time limited, giving everyone the certainty that this will not go on forever. But on the vital relationship between the eu and the uk after we leave, optimism but few more clues beyond ruling out copying someone elses deal. We c
Across the atlantic, the chaos and destruction caused by recent storms and floods continued with Hurricane Maria devastating several islands in the caribbean. How the name of one of those islands was pronounced caught the attention of several newswatch viewers following broadcasts like these. And there are reports of extensive damage to dominica where there are torrential rains and winds of more than 160 mph. The latest category five storm hit the island of dominica overnight with winds of 160 mph. The nations president said the devastation was mind boggling. That last introduction was watched by one newswatch viewer who explained the problem in this anonymous telephone call. I have been watching the bbc news today with sophie and it is quite irritating that the hurricane she says has hit dominica. Well, that is 1000 kilometres away. It has hit domin ee ca as the weatherman correctly pronounced it. The Dominican Republic is 1000 kilometres away. So please could you ask her to pronounce
We start with the guardian, which shows theresa may making her speech in florence. As weve been reporting shes called for a two year transitional period after britain leaves the european union. The Prime Minister also crops up on the front of the daily telegraph. The paper reports on some unhappiness from the eurosceptic wing of the conservative party who are unhappy that the uk will as they see it still be bound to brussels. The daily mail says mrs may is walking a tightrope trying to placate the two wings of her warring party. But the Prime Minister believes her countrys future can be bright outside the eu. The independent calls it a brexit reality check pointing out that the uk will have to accept Free Movement of people until at least 2021, and the country will have no say in how eu regulations are decided. And the daily mirror goes its own way reporting on the Court Appearance of ahmed hassan the teenager accused of carrying out the Parsons Green tube bombing. Its alleged he bough