Top stories in brussels and strasbourg. On todays programme as the brexit secratary accuses the European Union of discourteous language, will the government get the frictionless trade with europe they want after brexit if were not in the Customs Union . Angela merkel does a deal with her socialist rivals to form a coalition five months after the german elections, but how stable will her new government be . And how should brussels new top euro grant be chosen, we investigate the process. And has the European Parliament voted to abolish summertime . All that to come and more in the next half an hour that to come and more in the next halfan hourand that to come and more in the next half an hour and joining me for all of it is the mirrors associate editor and camilla comedy of the express but first heres our guide to the latest from europe in 60 seconds. Turns out its notjust the brits who like to talk weather, much of europe has faced freezing temperatures with parisians even skiing down montmartre and snowfall shutting down the eiffel tower. Frosty relations seem to have thawed in germany as the country looks set to emerge from months of political deep freeze with Angela Merkels conservatives finally agreeing a Coalition Deal with the centre left social democrats. The European Parliament voted against proposals to create a backdrop and european meps that would have allowed a vote in finland or spain to be represented by the same mep, delivering a blow to macrons plans to transform eu democracy. The European Parliament also voted to remove one of its Vice President s after he sparked outrage by comparing a fellow polish mep to a Nazanin Zaghari ratcliffe collaborator. The European Commission bigwig Jean Claude Juncker on the other hand is clearly feeling coming when he ruffled the hairof his feeling coming when he ruffled the hair of his chief brexit negotiator ahead of a strasbourg debate on the future of europe. Lets talk about germany and the coalition that may oi germany and the coalition that may or may not be secured, what do you think will happen . I think she will be but shes given a lot of ground, the sdp, which didnt do well in the election, are extracting their price and she is and what she was. Shes still chancellor but shes not as commanding, all political careers have to end in failure at some time and you can feel shes in a much later state. But i wouldnt write her off. The polls say shes still ina her off. The polls say shes still in a relatively strong position. Her rather than the party but she isnt as strong as she once but it will still be macron in france and her in germany calling the main shots and we will know that when redo the negotiations. If the Coalition Goes ahead with the labour party in germany, and the members have to vote on that, where does it leave the adf party, the far right group, within the bundestag that secured many seats in the election . It still leaves them knocking on the door and i think they are still a threat and i think they are still a threat and i think merkel has had a wake up call as far as the electorate is concerned that some of her policies havent been popular. Its a massive concession theyve lost the finance ministry to the Coalition Partners and looking forward to brexit, thinking psychologically, will merkel be thinking having gone through this tussle to try to secure an agreement that she has comprised so an agreement that she has comprised so much that she will get tough on the uk when it comes to the eu . Who knows what her state of mind is but theres a bit of irony about her having a go at theresa may not being able to make up her mind couple of weeks ago when shes herself in this hugely precarious position. But germany often goes through months of Decision Making when it comes to coalitions, it is unusual to go along for this long and struggle in the way she has to secure a coalition, has a weakened germanys position broadly in the eu . Im not sure it has. Germany is such an industrial economic powerhouse still, such a large country and the additional member system, part pr, were one of the countries that imposed it after the second world war, it works towards coalitions but it is who is in that coalition. Its taken longer than before, it took some time anyway, but the germans work these things through but you just feel that she herself isnt a commanding figure but i think paired to theresa may i think theresa may would love to be in merkels position. I think they are both from the conservative background, theyve a lot in common, they both have religious fervour about them, they cut a religious fervour about them, they cuta similar religious fervour about them, they cut a similarfigure in religious fervour about them, they cut a similar figure in terms of being isolated on the world stage. Its being isolated on the world stage. Its interesting, maybe they should get together over a coffee. On that, we will move on the second stage of brexit negotiations with the eu have begun with talks moving onto the transition stage. On sunday, the government confirmed that 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 adding that its its still unclear whether the uk will stay in the Customs Union and the Single Market during any transition period. A leaked eu draft of the Withdrawal Agreement suggested the uks access to the Single Market would be restricted during the transition phase if theres a dispute after brexit. Brexit secratary david davis the eu of using discourteous language in the document and brexiteers claim continued membership of the Customs Union and Single Market would render britain a vassal state. Remainers and some business groups have called for urgent action from government to address the uncertainty with the british chambers of commerce this week that their patience is wearing thin. Werejoined now week that their patience is wearing thin. Were joined now from amsterdam by the dutch mep paul tang who earlier this week described Theresa Mays Brexit strategy as stupidity. From brussels by the conservative mp dan dalton. Welcome to both of you. Paul tang first of all, do you regret calling theresa mays strategy on brexit stupidity . Well, no. Ithink mays strategy on brexit stupidity . Well, no. I think it is still stupid. There are huge problems with exiting not the eu but the Customs Union. The Customs Unions will lead toa union. The Customs Unions will lead to a hard border, leaving the Customs Union will lead to a hard border between ireland and northern ireland, that has been an issue before. Moreover, it will hamper the trade 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 that play and i think theyre stupid, are they the ones to pay for these ideological choices . Dan dalton, what was your response to hearing that language about the strategy and do you think the conservative government should keep some sort of Customs Union relationship on the table . No, i think theres a misunderstanding about the Customs Union because it is often portrayed as if staying in the Customs Union when leaving the eu is the status quo and it isnt. What it would mean is the day we left the eu but stayed in the Customs Union, we would lose trade access to all the countries the eu has done trade deals with around the re st of has done trade deals with around the rest of the world in addition to not being able to do trade deals are self. So staying in the Customs Union would mean an eu only trade policy, there is no professional agreement with any other company and we wouldnt be up to get one so the only option frankly for the uk is to leave the Customs Union despite the troubles, there is the only option on the table. Paul tang, do you agree we would lose access to any third country agreements that have been made with the eu, we would be a vassal state . Been made with the eu, we would be a vassal state . Know because i think the new trade agreements are not about the trade and transport of goods, they are about services, much more important and growing part of the economy. This is what is at sta ke for the economy. This is what is at stake for the future relation. I think Great Britain after exiting the uk can make trade agreements especially on services. But coming back one moment, we think that turkey and the eu are not best friends, right . But turkey is still pa rt friends, right . But turkey is still part of the Customs Union and thats an economic reason. 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 . It hasnt been fully discussed. The government has certainly said it needs to address the issue ijust talked about, i. E. Losing access to third countries for our exports. Are you saying like the International Trade minister earlier this week that the government still hasnt got a position on whether britain stays in the Customs Union despite the fact david davis has said we will remain on the same terms during that implementation period . I think you sort of answer the question yourself. Can you say it for us, the question yourself. Can you say itfor us, are the question yourself. Can you say it for us, are we going to stay in the Customs Union . We will stay on the Customs Union . We will stay on the same terms as currently but we need to address this issue, which is the key issue that we suddenly lose access to all our export markets for those that countries that have done deals with the eu and thats the issue david davis is trying to address and needs to be addressed in the midocean asians. If we get that thenl the midocean asians. If we get that then i suggest we will be staying in for the transition. Negotiations. Your position, i take this is a negotiation, it still hasnt been cleared up whether britain has access to the countries that have made agreements outside the eu, but the British Government position in the British Government position in the transition that britain would remain in the Customs Union . Im not a spokesman for the British Government but my understanding is if we can address this issue with regards to those third countries and also the ability to do our own trade deals as well then as i understand it the government is open for staying in for that period providing those provisos are met. Paultang, isnt that the point, this is a negotiation so whatevers been said by Michel Barnier when he says the decision the uk will leave the Single Market and Customs Union will mean border checks at the irish frontier is his negotiating position, it doesnt mean it is fa ct . No, i would say it is logic. I havent seen the alternative for the border between ireland and northern ireland. Im not sure you have heard it, i havent heard it. The Customs Union is the option on the table and i wouldnt throw that option away if i were Great Britain. So its not just a matter of negotiation, its also a matter of logic. By the way, just look at a map. You can try to agree new trade agreements but lets face it, the uk and the eu are pretty close geographically. We are a logical trading partner so the First Priority should be, especially if you want to protect jobs First Priority should be, especially if you want to protectjobs and industry, find a trade agreement with the eu. You said, dan, that youre not a spokesperson for the British Government, are you happy with the governments negotiating position . Yeah, ithink governments negotiating position . Yeah, i think the government has been very clear from the word go that we want to leave. Your answer slightly led me to believe that the uk government hasnt been very clear because you dont seem to be sure about what the position is . Im very clearon about what the position is . Im very clear on the position, im just saying im not representing the British Government, im a conservative mep from the Government Party but im not privy to negotiations but my understanding is clear that the government position is we would leave the Customs Union and Single Market and we would have and Single Market and we would have a frictionless trade partnership with the eu. Is the right thing, paul tang, to use language to make britain get punished if, as far as the eu is concerned, the uk doesnt stick to the letter of the transition agreement, that somehow restrictions would be placed on britain in terms of access to the Single Market. Does that help smooth the way to successful negotiations . Know, normally it doesnt. I know how words from barnier are perceived in the uk. That is unfortunate. Its also in the perception i would say. I dont think that the eu is threatening but 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 the British Government seems more divided than the 27 other states. Right, you say that, but does Michel Barnier really now speak for the entire European Union . Oh, i think we have lost. Weve got you back, can you still hear me, paul tang . Yeah, ican can you still hear me, paul tang . Yeah, i can hear you. We lost you momentarily, weve got you back. Are the big question, you say britain is more divided than the eu 27, but does Michel Barnier speak for the netherlands in terms of the draft eu text . Ca n netherlands in terms of the draft eu text . Can we really imagine a state where the netherlands would want to put up barriers to trade with the uk . They dont want to make it more difficult, do they . There will be different in that they have been excluded by the British Government. I expect there be differences but we dont see a differences but we dont see a difference is it you cannot cherry pick. That is the fear that keeps the eu 27 together. But when there are real choices on the table, i expect there will be some kind of deficient between the eu 27. Listening theyre to dan sultan, what is your impression of this seemingly confusion over whether britain is going to remain in the Customs Union . It was made clear that we would be leaving the Single Market and the Customs Union. What is she going to do . Stowing going and briefing against hammond and others before she has a cabinet consensus only then to face more counter briefing. But we have ready head david davis saved will be on terms. This is what is confusing because david davis. And this is why we have reason mocks. There is acclaimed david davis has lost control to lee robbins who seems to be briefing he does want us to stay in the Customs Union. There is a problem with the ad men of this process. Yes. If it was only about admen. Admen. Admin. Is it about using the sort of language that david davis used as discourteous, that this is them trying to exert political pressure . Of course, the 27 are looking after their interests as the uk are supposed to be. I think the current policy is the National Interest but thatis policy is the National Interest but that is their attempt. It is clear asa that is their attempt. It is clear as a drunken mass or in a bar after midnight. What is actually happening. Theresa may have a warring cabinet, a warring parties. She might think is she knows what she wants but she cant get it which is why we are in this ridiculous row about what we are asking for in the transition period and if we dont know what we are asking for, how can we get it . We will find out. 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