all political debate in europe right this is the briefing, now can be boiled down to a profound i'm maryam moshiri. this is bbc news, battle between the pro—immigration our top story: the latest headlines: forces led by emmanuel macron the prime minister of new zealand in france and the anti—immigration populist nationalist politicians britain's prime minister has announced a ban like orban, like mr salvini heads to brussels. on the sale of assault rifles in italy, and, i dare say, she's asking for a three—month delay to brexit, like your president time she'll use to persuade the uk and semi—automatics, and prime minister who are both populist politicians. how comfortable are you with parliament to back her deal. a response to the christchurch the czech republic being on the side of the populists? now you want us to get on with it, terror attack, that killed 50 people in two mosques. she said the ban was expected to go the picture is much more complex, and that is what i am determined to through parliament and be in place it's not in black and white, by april 11. and as we illustrate, do. now she is heading for brussels, she also announced interim measures, the czech republic has a population effective immediately, to prevent a rush of 10 million and we have more than 500,000 foreigners living to ask for a three—month delay to of sales before then. in the country, which is more brexit. but will her request been britain's prime minister has blamed than 5% of the population, parliament for delaying so we are not a closed country, brexit and claimed she is at? —— be met. we are not an anti—immigration on the side of the british people, who she says are tired country. foreign minister, if i may quote your own boss, a major policy change of the whole process. he recently met with donald trump from new zealand's prime minister. a dramatic response to friday's gun she's asked the eu to extend just a short time ago in the white britain's leaving date to the end attack on two mosques. house. donald trump said to him, ofjune, but much every semi—automatic weapon used in depends on a crucial eu summit on thursday and friday. the terrorist attack on friday will rescue teams are still struggling to reach survivors a week be banned in this country. after cyclone idai hit south—eastern africa. aid workers say thousands are still desperate for help. "how mean migrants are you prepared about 300 people are confirmed dead in mozambique and zimbabwe, but the toll is expected to rise. to take as part of the european union?"

mr babis, your prime minister, boasted to donald trump, he said, "how many now on hardtalk, migrants am i taking? stephen sackur speaks zero." that's mr babis‘s politics. what we distinguish is regular to the czech foreign minister. and irregular migration, and there's a big difference, welcome to hardtalk. and we have always advocated regular i'm stephen sackur. migration as part of our daily life. what we dont want is irregular migration. and, really, there is also when it comes to brexit, the usual political cliches migration, not only from the south, about end games and moments there is migration from areas like vietnam, eastern parts of truth are useless. of europe, central asia and, really, british prime minister theresa may we have 5% of the population living has managed to turn brexit in my country are foreigners. into the crisis that never ends. and we have a good track record... and now, she wants the eu to agree to a 3—month extension to the departure deadline, the truth is, the eu commission has that was fixed for march 29. launched a legal action so, will the eu 27 agree? against all four so—called visegrad countries... but we opposed from the beginning compulsory solutions like quotas... well, my guest is the czech foreign ..which is why you are in dispute with the eu commission. minister, tomas petricek. this is not the way europe should approach the crisis. first, let's start with... what will the eu need in return we unity, we talked for giving britain more time to sort out the mess it's in? about solidarity in europe.

you're completely breaking that. but the debate has also evolved, and more and more, the accent is put on really tackling the root causes of the problem. and that we show measurable solidarity with our partners in europe, we are doing a lot. you are still in dispute — however you slice it and dice it, you're still in dispute with the brussels commission, tomas petricek, welcome to hardtalk. you — and the facts thank you for having me. speak for themselves — to describe what is happening in british politics today of the 2,000 asylum seekers that concerning brexit as chaos you were required to take as part would be being very polite. of the burden sharing, you eventually agreed to take 12. you've actually just hungary and poland come from a meeting took precisely zero. with british's foreign you guys in the visegrad area, secretary, jeremy hunt. neighbourhood, are becoming so, what do you, as a foreign the symbolic defenders minister of one of the eu 27 of an anti—immigration populism, which is threatening — nations, make of what's and i use that word advisedly — threatening the coherence and unity going on in london? the big problem for us of the european union. is the uncertainty. we don't know what's going to be the outcome, once more, we are not and for us, it's important that we anti immigration. have an orderly brexit, what we clearly distinguish is that if we are to face the problem, we don't a no deal solution either, and if an extension might help we need to also tackle the root causes. for some negotiations, we need to limit the push factors also. we need to focus on issues

we are ready to consider it. like fighting the smugglers and human traffickers, how to better protect our borders, and not start the debate from only but we need to see the light tackling the consequences. at the end of the tunnel. these are all important well, we'll get to some detailed policy statements. of the detail in a minute. i understand these are important butjust on a personal, political level, do you find what is happening in westminster, the british parliament, and they‘ re details, right now, is pretty but i come back to this point much incomprehensible? about your comfort as a social democrat sitting in a coalition we have negotiated with the uk government, when you hear your own over the past two years, president, mr zeman, saying this — the deal which was not "i do not believe there are moderate easy for neither the uk, muslims and radical muslims. nor eu 27. the anti—civilisation spreading from north africa to indonesia is the enemy. there are 2 billion people living it has been a delicate compromise there, financed by selling oil, in part by selling drugs." at the end of the day. that seems to me like a form now, we expected the ratification of islamophobia and it's coming from your head of state. would take place rather smoothly. again, are you happy with where the czech republic sits in the current debate? it didn't happen, and for us, it's important that there is a solution. we know what britain does not want. we would like to know what you do want. yeah, you haven't a clue

what britain actually, positively, is prepared to accept. that, i guess, is the i'm a social democrat, and solidarity... crux of your problem. are you appalled when your own head of state says things like that? that's a problem. that's democracy. but answer my question. are you appalled by those words? how frustratated are you? let me quote to you the words of an influential german mp, alexander graf lambsdorff — he represents the free democrats — the president was elected in elections. i don't have to agree he said this this morning, with everything that he says. in the wake of the latest i see that there is much broader, round of chaos with mrs may telling complex issues on the table, the eu she wants a 3—month and if you speak about migration, extension, he says, "if there is nothing we are taking the burden, in london but shaking heads, but probably not from the parts of the world media are a screaming speaker of the house, chaos and domestic political misery, covering right now. there cannot be a continuation because we would just be continuing this misery." do you feel pretty i suppose there's a challenge coming much the same way? up, because both the commission has the european council launched enquiries into is going to discuss the request whether hungary and poland from prime minister may are challenging and threatening the values, core values of the european union. now, the european parliament has tomorrow in brussels. recently voted that funding could be withheld from countries that we are ready to are deemed to be violating the rule consider the request. of law, and it will not necessarily have to involve a unanimity process at the same time, we need to know more. at the eu level. we need to know — is there a solution? is there a possibility to have an agreement in westminster

on the withdrawal agreement? well, she's written a letter, as i'm sure you know, a letter to the eu negotiators, and indeed, to the council, saying, " look, frankly so, the question is — we have not got a deal. will the czech republic, i believe i can still get this deal in the future, support measures to punish countries like hungary if they are found to be in violation through, but i need more time." of eu core principles? the rule of law, democracy — she's not offering a new plan, these are key principles for the european union, she's simply saying, and in november, we are going to commemorate 30 years since the fall of communism "i'm sticking with the old plan and, in our part of the world, at some point, i believe i can get and you, stephen, reported it through, but only if from prague about events... you give me more time." you're quite right, i did. is that enough? if it creates a window of opportunity to reach an agreement and get the majority in favour of the withdrawal agreement in westminster, we should truly seriously consider extending the period. ..evolution and i'm committed i already saw the words to what we wanted 30 years ago, ofjean—claude juncker, that we have european was to turn back to europe, elections at the end of may, to become part of the democratic which might complicate the request, world, to respect the principles but i believe that leaders and values on which it stands. the rule of law is important to me in brussels will discuss very seriously the request, and i believe that even because the time is probably without partners, something we are missing we need to discuss it.

at the moment. will you support actions taken against viktor 0rban in hungary for what is seen as a curbing of free expression, it is seen as corruption. it's nine days until on a whole host of different levels, he is seen to be in violation, the former deadline. according to the european parliament which voted this way, seen to be in violation i hope that there will be an option of eu values. the european approach has been to use the additional time to forge always based on dialogue, a majority in westminster. and at the moment, i see that the dialogue, for example, with poland, led to changes in the law, which were you, if i may say so, are treading considered to be... i asked about hungary. the same applies to hungary. let's first have a dialogue rather delicately around this. with hungary, let's also listen to the other side. let me quote to you, just from the last few minutes, the words of the french foreign minister, jean—yves le drian, who said this in paris — he said, "if theresa may cannot offer sufficient guarantees about the credibility of her strategy — and i guess that basically means that she can guarantee she will get it through the british parliament — then the european council will turn i speak with my hungarian down her extension request." counterparts quite often. i understand some of the arguments they are raising, the way the french are not being they are raising them might not be... as delicate as you. but before using formal instruments, let's try to discuss the issues and let's try to find they're saying they're a solution through discussion. minded to turn this down. a final thought, because look, we — there is a lot at stake. the european parliamentary elections are coming up.

why do you think it is — britain is not leaving europe, it's only about withdrawing if we're talking about the rise from the eu, and britain of populist nationalism in europe, will remain, certainly, why do you think is it an important partner for my country, that your own party, the social democrats, according to the last elections, down at 7% or 8% of the vote, but for all of the eu, whereas mr babis‘s party, which is much more outspoken, much more nationalist and populist, is winning 30% of the vote — and we want to have good relations in the future. what is going on in the czech republic? why is this? that's the cornerstone that's probably the question of our approach to the brexit issue. for political scientists, we have prepared for a no—deal but i'm afraid we made some mistakes in the past, we have to learn from those mistakes. what i believe we achieved over the past year is that we stabilised brexit option as well. our party, we are much more prone to face the populist movements, to face the populists in general in my country. the fact we are now we have passed legislation in a coalition with — which will allow british citizens to stay in the country. yes, a movement with prime minister babis, we are preparing for an option just because we wanted to prevent that extremists are taking more that we do not want, but we will probably need responsibility for governing my country. to face the reality... so, i believe, as our but the question for you... president masaryk used to tell, ..and when it comes to extension, step by step, everyday politics i think that we should really might also lead us back consider whether this is a way how to the right track. to give some more space for theresa may and others to try to accept a deal. i just wonder if this is a moment of truth, not just for theresa may and the british government,

which is quite patently in a terrible mess, but also, it's going to be a very interesting moment for the eu 27. thus far, for the last two years of this complex negotiation, the 27 have stayed united. right now, because we are well, we know in britain right so intensely involved now that every day counts. in the endgame, a cliche i tried so, we have to end there. to avoid, maybe the unity tomas petricek, i thank you very is beginning to fragment. much for being on hardtalk. thank you very much. the french, it seems, thank you. are going to take a harder line it's a pleasure. than you're taking with me. the unity at the end is based on the compromise, which needs to be discussed tomorrow in brussels, and i believe that the eu 27 is going to remain united, because what we don't certainly want is that individual member states hello. form their own path. it was the spring equinox yesterday and it felt like spring, particularly if you were in the sunshine. we had an abundance of sunshine across parts of east wales, the midlands and northern england, so sheffield, harden two we have so far managed to look of the areas to reach 19 degrees. for compromise on this ground that's the highest it's been since that warmth and we would like to we had in february. these are the sort of continue with this. weather watcher pictures we had sent in. the only thing i'm saying of course, we had the cloudier skies is that the czech republic as well, such as here,

will certainly consider and i think today, on balance, the request as a valid one, we will have rather more cloud and we are looking for options that than we had yesterday. but it still should be, for many of us, dry. might help us to get to a deal. however, there's always an exception to the rule. for scotland, we have you will consider it, but i'm not got this weather front, it's been moving in through the night, bringing this persistent hearing from you anything specific vein to the highlands and islands. that you're saying mrs may must deliver before you will approve an extension request. can you be specific about what you now need to see from the british government? we need to know what is the strategy, what britain wants, how prime minister may quite a wet spell here would like to reach for the next couple of days. the majority in westminster. that south—westerly wind maintains the mild weather through the night, just the holes in the cloud fill in with mist and fog. it could be quite murky first thing. because what i have discussed with my british partners is that nobody really wants a no—deal that fog should lift solution, nobody really wants a hard except on the hills and the coasts brexit. around the south and west what we want is to find a way to get of england and wales, the agreement and there is no indication of what the plan is, scotland too where it remains quite dreary and quite damp as well. but i believe that there

even though the rain makes its way further northwards, is going to be a scope it has, as you can see, for debate tomorrow, drifted into central parts and theresa may will have to present of scotland, what is the strategy. so a different complexion right. to the weather here. if we do see some brightness, potentially up in the north—east england, we'll see temperatures again 16, 17 degrees. but theresa may, tomorrow, but for most of us, if she goes to eu council, there's less sunshine, will not be able to guarantee just a lot of cloud, but still largely dry weather. that she can get the deal, as it currently sits, now, through the evening, through the british parliament. that rain gets pushed away are you saying she will then need on a strengthening wind and we watch the next weather front hot to go back to london, she will need to win on its heels coming back in to northern and western areas. that vote before the eu, through the night into friday, maybe at an emergency council it turns very wet once again. parts of north—west scotland could have a considerable amount of rain in on the very eve of the march 29 the next day or two. it freshens up and dries up behind and sunshine returns, but ahead of it on friday, for many, deadline, could then ratify an extension? still be largely dry is that the way you but rather cloudy and mild. see it playing out? it's a difference, really. it might be the way. we're changing our mild i don't have a crystal ball, atlantic south—westerly winds for slightly cooler, i cannot predict what's almost polar north—westerlies. yes, still relatively mild, going to happen tomorrow. but temperatures dip back to where they should be for the time of year with the sunshine returning. there's another problem here, although it could be disappointingly cloudy and you alluded to it earlier — across southern areas on saturday. a third or fourth day of that is the european parliamentary elections. now, as i understand it, disappointing cloudy weather here. eventually, that brighter mrs may was advised on the telephone weather will win through and temperatures byjean—claude juncker as you can see are down, significantly so, because that she should not seek we're back into that chilly air and we have some wintry showers. an extension beyond may 23 thursday night, friday looks

because, in his view, like the windier spell and we know it's the view in the north, but we will keep of the bureaucrats in the eu the brisk wind coming commission, if britain in through the weekend. that accentuates the chill, considering what we've is inside the eu after may 23, had this week. as for next week, we keep the high—pressure close then it is required to hold to the south. european parliamentary elections, temperatures recovering a little with some spring sunshine. which take place on that day. bye— bye. now, mrs may, it seems, has completely ignored that advice from jean—claude juncker and she's seeking an extension all the way through to june 30. in your view, is that another big problem? i don't think it's a big problem. at the end of the day, we have a solution for uk withdrawing on the table, so that you are not participating in european elections, you are not going to participate in the creation of the new commission. that is european legislation that has been already put in place. in this context, i believe that there might be an option

that the deadline is postponed till the end ofjune, but it is up to the prime minister and presidents tomorrow. you have had some inside track today, because you've seen the british foreign secretary, jeremy hunt. did he give you any assurances that the deal will now be put back before the british parliament in the next few days and that, in his view, it will be passed? what was he able to say to you in terms of guarantees and assurances? unfortunately, we don't have guarantees at the moment. you don't? we don't. did he look extremely uncomfortable in your conversation with him? we agreed on friday that a no—deal solution is not something we seek, and that there is a chance the withdrawal agreement will be approved in parliament. but there are no guarantees at the moment for us.

interesting, you have said several times, you know, "we don't want a no—deal outcome." there are still many brexiteers — that is those who are absolutely adamant that the british government should leave with no deal rather than accept the current deal — those people still, it seems, think that the onus is on the eu to provide more concessions, and they seem to believe that the eu, fundamentally, is so alarmed by the prospect of no deal, that at the last second of the last minute of the last hour, you and your colleagues will blink and you will offer more concessions. what do you say to them? i said at the beginning that the agreement we have since last november is a delicate compromise. it's not a compromise only between the eu and uk, it's a compromise within the eu 27, and we should approach the agreement in this context, and it will be very hard to open this agreement.

hard, but not impossible? i believe it's almost impossible. almost impossible, but not impossible. i don't see the option that we are reopening the text of the agreement. that's off the table right now, and what we want is to know what is the strategy theresa may is taking to ratify the agreement. if no deal is the outcome, will you regard that as a profound failure, notjust of the politicians, political class in britain, but a failure of the eu 27 as well? it is not time to look at who is to blame. i believe that if no deal is the end of the game, then we need to focus on re—establishing the relations between the eu and the uk. how frustrated are you that brexit is sucking up so much time, energy, resource across the european union? here we are on the eve of another european council, going to be dominated by brexit, there may be an emergency council the week after, dominated by brexit,

you have no idea what's going to happen, no idea of long—term impact on the european economy. how frustrated are you, as a european politician, that this is dominating your agenda? first, i used to study in the uk, and for me, it's a real pity that the uk decided to leave the eu. i would rather have the united kingdom in the club. but we have to face the reality, and the truth is that brexit has become such a huge expenditure when it comes to time and energy of the people in europe, we see all the fatigue of the issue among british and european population, and we face a lot of problems elsewhere. we are diverging our attention from issues of what to do with the global economy, global trade, security issues around us, we have instability in our neighbourhood... there are profound challenges, that is undoubtedly true. so, let'sjust consider where the czech republic sits on one

of the most challenging issues in europe today, and that is migration. i pick that because european elections are coming up and the influential hungarian prime minister, 00:16:18,498 --> 2147483051:44:53,964 viktor orban, says these 2147483051:44:53,964 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 elections and, frankly,