it comes as oxfam faces allegations that oversees staff used prostitutes on missions in haiti and chad. the british charity says it's shocked and dismayed by the claims. tensions between israel and syria have intensified after israeli fighter planes launched bombing raids across the border. israel says it's been targeting iranian positions on syrian territory. the us and russia have expressed concern over the attacks while the un has called for an immediate de—escalation. the british foreign secretary has arrived in myanmar, where he will call for rohingya muslims to be allowed to return safely to their homes. earlier, borisjohnson visited a refugee camp in neighbouring bangladesh, ahead of his meeting with the burmese leader, aung san suu kyi. that's it from me. the breakfast team is here at 6am. now on bbc news, politics europe. hello and welcome to politics europe, your regular guided to the

top stories in brussels and strasbourg. on today's 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 we're 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 mirror‘s associate editor and camilla comedy of the express but first here‘s our guide to the latest from europe in 60 seconds. turns out it‘s 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 merkel‘s 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 macron‘s plans to transform eu democracy. the european parliament also voted to remove one of its vice presidents 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. let‘s 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 she‘s given a lot of ground, the sdp, which didn‘t do well in the election, are extracting their price and she is and what she was. she‘s still chancellor but she‘s not as commanding, all political careers have to end in failure at some time and you can feel she‘s in a much later state. but i wouldn‘t write her off. the polls say she's still ina her off. the polls say she's still in a relatively strong position. her rather than the party but she isn‘t 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 haven‘t been popular. it‘s a massive concession they‘ve 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 there‘s 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 she‘s 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 germany‘s position broadly in the eu? i'm not sure it has. germany is such an industrial economic powerhouse still, such a large country and the additional member system, part pr, we're one of the countries that imposed it after the second world war, it works towards coalitions but it is who is in that coalition. it's taken longer than before, it took some time anyway, but the germans work these things through but you just feel that she herself isn't a commanding figure but i think paired to theresa may i think theresa may would love to be in merkel's position. i think they are both from the conservative background, they‘ve 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. it's being isolated on the world stage. it‘s 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: it's it‘s 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 uk‘s access to the single market would be restricted during the transition phase if there‘s 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. we‘rejoined now week that their patience is wearing thin. we‘re joined now from amsterdam by the dutch mep paul tang who earlier this week described theresa may‘s 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 may‘s strategy on brexit stupidity? well, no. ithink may‘s 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 they‘re 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 there's 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 isn't. 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 wouldn't 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 that‘s 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 hasn't 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 hasn‘t 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 that's 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 hasn‘t 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? i'm 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, isn‘t that the point, this is a negotiation so whatever‘s 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 doesn‘t mean it is

fa ct? no, i would say it is logic. i haven‘t seen the alternative for the border between ireland and northern ireland. i‘m not sure you have heard it, i haven‘t heard it. the customs union is the option on the table and i wouldn‘t throw that option away if i were great britain. so it‘s not just a matter of negotiation, it‘s also a matter of logic. by the way, just look at a map. you can try to agree new trade agreements but let‘s 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 you‘re not a spokesperson for the british government, are you happy with the government‘s negotiating position?

yeah, ithink government‘s 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 hasn‘t been very clear because you don‘t seem to be sure about what the position is? i'm very clearon about what the position is? i'm very clear on the position, i'm just saying i'm not representing the british government, i'm a conservative mep from the government party but i'm 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 doesn‘t 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 doesn‘t. i know

how words from barnier are perceived in the uk. that is unfortunate. it‘s also in the perception i would say. i don‘t think that the eu is threatening but it‘s pointing out the options that are on the table and personally i don‘t 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... we‘ve 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, we‘ve 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 don‘t 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 don‘t see a differences but we don‘t 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 they‘re 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 can‘t get it which is why we are in this ridiculous row about what we are asking for in the transition period and if we don‘t know what we are asking for, how can we get it? we will find out. now, the ship its candidate process. —— schpitzen. it is about choosing your‘s top bureaucrat. schpitzen. it is about choosing your's top bureaucrat. when jean—claude juncker comes to strasberg, he sits here. he got his job through the lead candidate system which it says the european commission president should be the person put forward by the political grouping that does best at the

european parliament elections. in 2014, that was the centre right ep peak, yorker was their man and that‘s why this is now his chair. —— etp. jean—claude juncker. it was opposed to —— by david cameron. now mps say they would reject anyone who wasn‘t a schpitzen candidat. mps say they would reject anyone who wasn't a schpitzen candidat. we will not accept anyone as lead candidate of the democratic party. and can bring about a majority in the new elected european parliament. the liberals tried to go further this week. a directly elected president rather than someone selected by party bosses like last time. they we re never relate party bosses like last time. they were never relate it by citizens of europe. —— never elected. they were just appointed will stop in this case, we have jean—claude juncker

who was appointed by the etp. they we re who was appointed by the etp. they were the biggest party. we would get away from that and people would stop blaming us for democratic deficiencies if they can actually pick up the list and vote for a person. others think it should be jumped altogether. it is taking away some member states' power. this is a wrong message. we avoided the system to get completely in 2014. now the debate moves from parliament‘s corners to a meeting of eu leaders at the end of the month where there isa at the end of the month where there is a split between opponents and supporters but the croatian prime minister who i chanced upon doing a bit of gladhanding. in 2014 when i

was leading the list of my political party and my political family in croatia. it was a cohesive element for the elections. i feel that we should continue with this concept at these elections. i supported it again today. who is this? somebody who wants to be the schpitzen candidat. do you think is it a good idea? brexit, brexit. sticking to their day job idea? brexit, brexit. sticking to their dayjob for now. idea? brexit, brexit. sticking to their day job for now. it is all about brexit. we are talking about the schpitzen candidat today. i hope you can hear me. how much backing of this have? this idea of the parliament or the biggest party

having a say? they clearly support the idea. they stand behind the idea. it is a way to strengthen democracy in the eu. the main challenge is the european countries because a lot of them think it would reduce their powers. they have drawn a lot of criticism in the eu. —— spitzenkandidat. it is not necessary and farfrom spitzenkandidat. it is not necessary and far from the eu‘s concerns of the e0. and far from the eu‘s concerns of the eq. david cameron was unhappy about the idea ofjean—claude juncker, for example, becoming

president. didn‘t want to lose the power that nationstates had in deciding what influencing that decision. when you say people are against it, who else is against the idea of the parliament having more influence? the most surprising country against the spitzenkandidat is france. it is surprising because a emmanuel macron, the french president, has always declared and supported an election process that would be more democratic and he has a lwa ys would be more democratic and he has always been very keen to make europe much more transparent and democratic. it is surprising from him. his position is that the spitzenkandidat would favour the party in the european parliament that has won the most seats which means there epp. we know, he never said it publicly, but clearly we know he doesn‘t like that because it

is not his party. funny that. all editions always like an idea unless it doesn‘t go the way they would like to —— politicians. what about directly appointing the president —— electing the president? it might happen some day but clearly not now. the spitzenkandidat itself is already an improvement because the so many years it was decided among eu leaders in backroom deals and the parliament wasn‘t involved. it is a big step forward that the parliament could have the right at some point to elect the candidate. maybe in it you years, we would have an elected president. thank you very much. now, did meps vote to abolish summertime this week? well, no. but they did us

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 they go back. one italian mep thought the whole thing was a waste of time and money. translation: here we are talking about whether ronald we should abolish this. what if we move the fingers of the clock in our back and that would mean saving, for european citizens, at tally and citizens, a saving of 150,000 euros which we could then give back to citizens. —— italian. your thoughts? i would love to do it. it comes up every now and again in this country. i can see the argument for more sunlight in the morning. it is a pain. what do you

think? my children, three under nine, are already wired into the city —— wide into the system. i can tell we need the clocks go forward to keep them back in bed a bit longer. we are wired to the system. i don‘t think people take kindly to being tech —— dictated to by that eu. do it themselves. i have had brexit extremists saying just do it. i like the way you both got in your little calling cards. brexit extremists. consultation, do you think it will actually happen?‘ consultation, god. on that basis, i will consult on both of you. it‘s the end. that is it for now. thank you for our guests. from all of us here, goodbye.

hello there. it looks like sunday‘s going to be a brighter day than certainly what we had on saturday — all that cloud and rain. but it will be a cold — certainly colder than saturday. the gale force winds easing down in the morning. then we should see sunshine and wintry showers for many areas with snow, even falling down to lower levels as well. this is the deep area of low pressure which will bring these strong winds during the overnight period. and as we head into sunday morning, those gales will be easing from eastern areas. but it‘s going to be a blustery day with wintry showers piling into the northern and western areas. the gales easing away from the east areas, like i mentioned, but still quite a blustery day. it‘s going to feel cold. there will be plenty of sunshine around southern and central and eastern areas but i think into the afternoon, even a few wintry showers reaching the midlands, maybe into the south—east of england as well, but certainly very windy in the north of scotland with snowfall accumulations continuing to mount up. it‘s going to be a cold day. as we head on in towards sunday night, much of the same, really.

with further wintry showers or even longer spells of snow across the north and the west of the country and it‘s going to be a cold night. subzero values central northern areas, so there will be a risk of ice to watch out for first thing on monday morning. but actually, monday is not looking too bad. there‘ll be plenty of sunshine around. in fact, more sunshine than what we‘ll see on sunday. a few wintry showers across northern and western areas. the wind beginning to pick up here towards the end of the day ahead of the next weather front which will be moving in off the atlantic. another chilly day. temperatures five to around eight degrees. now, as we head through monday night into tuesday, this weather front will push its way eastwards across the country, encountering that cold air, so it looks like we could see some considerable snow on its leading edge, certainly across northern areas. over the pennines, central southern scotland could see quite a lot of snow as this weather front moves through. eventually, it clears through as we go through the course of tuesday with skies brightening up behind, but we will see further wintry showers moving into scotland and northern ireland.

and those temperatures again chilly — 4—6 celsius. a brief ridge of high pressure calms things down as we head on in towards wednesday. the next weather system moves in off the atlantic, and it‘s a repeat performance once again. it bumps into that cold air, we could see disruptive some snow across the northern half of the country. 10cm to maybe 20cm of snow over the higher ground of scotland, in fact, and even snow down to lower levels. further south, it will be mainly of rain. but it‘s going to be quite a messy day, i think, on wednesday. maybe something a little less cold across the south but it‘s still going to feel on the chilly side. maybe something a little less cold across the south but it‘s still going to feel on the chilly side. as we head on through the rest of the week, thursday and friday looks much of the same — on the chilly side. hello. this is breakfast, with ben thompson and naga munchetty. a warning that uk charities could have their government funding withdrawn if they don‘t co—operate with authorities over safeguarding issues.

it follows reports that some oxfam workers used prostitutes in haiti in 2010. it‘s facing further allegations this morning. good morning. the damage caused by alcohol. a new parliamentary report says more than one—third of child deaths and serious injuries through neglect in england are linked to parental drinking. the foreign secretary borisjohnson arrives in myanmar to discuss