adam fleming is in brussels.it is important to tell the truth, the uk decision to leave the single market and to leave the customs union would make border checks unavoidable. this issue of avoiding a hard border in the island of ireland has only been parked, not solved, and it is still quite a tricky one, he also wanted to send a message that the british objections to the eu's plans for how this transition or in valente jhon pirez will work mean that it might not be agreed as quickly as the uk would like, and to that the british would say, it is a negotiation, they are negotiating, thatis negotiation, they are negotiating, that is what they are doing. slightly weird episode, disagreement between both sides about whether michel barnier could be in the room this morning while british civil servants were talking to european commission civil servants and that one has not yet been solved. i described last month as dryjanuary for brexit, not that much seemed to be happening, not the case in february(!) laughter adam fl

adam fleming in brussels and norman smith in westminster, thank you.from public health england show that while the majority of strokes occur in people over the age of 70, more than a third of first time strokes hit adults between a0 and 69. here‘s our health correspondent, catherine burns. i had a stroke. i had ihada i had a stroke. i had a stroke. adrian jones was just 53 when he happened to him. he says his stroke has changed his life, that he used to walk 50 miles a week, now he struggles over short distances. i didn‘t feel too great straightaway and when i twisted and tried to stand up i immediately fell over and i couldn‘t feel, i had no sensation on my left side at all. so, i didn‘t know what had happened, obviously panicking. the older you are the greater your chance of having a stroke, but the average age for men having a stroke has fallen from 71 to 68. for women, it‘s gone from 75 to 73. figures from public health england show almost 60% of first—time stroke patients were 70 or over. but there‘s been an increase in middle—aged people being af

how does this message go down you are, adam fleming?ota i got a chance to ask them about the kind of thing david davis was talking about but they were broadly welcoming but they make two points, this isjust what welcoming but they make two points, this is just what the eu welcoming but they make two points, this isjust what the eu does welcoming but they make two points, this is just what the eu does anyway with all its international partners, saying, if you follow the rules, you will get good access to the markets. if you try to undercut the eu rules or do something less safely, then the eu wants you to do it, then you will get less access to the eu market. —— ban. —— than. they want things that are written down, very detailed and legally enforceable, they do not operate on promises, expanding this speech with detailed proposals about how this would work in practice and what authority would you have that checks that both sides we re you have that checks that both sides were playing by the same rules and has the same standards, how woul

in a moment, we'll get reaction from adam fleming, in brussels. our assistant political editor, norman smith, who's in westminster. what do we make of it, what the people make about where you are? borisjohnson said people make about where you are? boris johnson said an people make about where you are? borisjohnson said an ambitious aim of trying to reach out and reassure former remainers and praising many former remainers and praising many for what he called their noble views and the sceptical europeans, saying that the brexit is not a peace sign from the white cliffs of dover. but at times, it sounded as if we were backin at times, it sounded as if we were back in the blood and gore of the brexit trenches, back in the referendum campaign. and that served to highlight how divisive the brexit issue was and raises the question about whether opinion really has moved on or whether we do still remaina moved on or whether we do still remain a fundamentally divided nation when it comes to brexit. and in that context, whether boris johnson was the relay t

we will hear from adam fleming seen.rns so closely. the books right now, absolutely, no to being part of a customs union —— the talks right now. the whole issue of the customs union is a big conversation at westminster around brexit. what it is. it allows the uk currently it as a member. the movement of goods around the place, without tariffs and taxes being added an stuff shuffles across borders and also wa nt shuffles across borders and also want something comes into the european union from outside the move freely from the member of the customs union to the next if you are assembling a cleaner customs union to the next if you are assembling a - cleaner or carbs assembling a vacuum cleaner or carbs and there are components from terrorist parts of the —— various parts of the continent, they can shovel around without charges added. in addition, there is a common tax added to stuff bulletins the outside which means if you're a member of the customs union, you can't go off and sign individual trade deals around the world. t

adam fleming is in brussels. how did it go down there?, this isjust how the eu does meeting. i was struck by two things, this is just how the eu does things with its international partners. if you stick to the eu rules, you get good access to the eu markets. the more you try to undercut the eu, the less access you get to markets. did the uk really have a choice? the second thing is this place does not run on warm words by politicians, no matter how well—received. it works on proper, detailed regulations which are specific and legally enforcea ble. which are specific and legally enforceable. the real hard work will be turning this idea and pledge by david davies into a functioning mechanism which can find its way into eu treaties and the eu will be happy if it is legally watertight. so easier said perhaps than it is done. thank you very much for that. thank you very much for that. the supreme court is considering an appeal that could have a major impact on the so—called ‘gig economy'. pimlico plumbers is challenging a ruling — that entitle

our reporter adam fleming has been looking at them. adam, what has the eu been saying?o eu officials have a private meeting put forward by areas where the uk keeps eu some areas where the uk keeps eu rules and regulations, other areas of the economy where they have the same goal but get there using different rules and regulations, and areas where things are totally different between the two. a document published last night shows the european commission's brexit negotiators said that concept would be incompatible with the eu ground rules for brexit which are all about protecting the integrity of the single market, the internal market as they call it here in brussels. this morning a senior eu diplomat said it looks like the uk was trying to pick bits of the single market it liked and reject bits it didn't like which to them is not an acceptable course of action. this meeting at chequers today is all about the uk agreeing an opening position for the next phase of brexit talks which is all about trade and the future relationship. if we have learned anything about the proces

adam fleming is muscles.dence, as the foreign secretary was speaking in london, jean—claude junker was speaking to us jean—claude junker was speaking to us journalists here in jean—claude junker was speaking to usjournalists here in brussels at oui’ usjournalists here in brussels at our long planned press conference, which was completely coincidental and about something else. now, presidentjunker was in his usual jolly me. he madejokes about presidentjunker was in his usual jolly me. he made jokes about the drinks on the coffee orders of eu leaders when they attend european summits. but the laughing stopped when a british journalist paraphrased boris johnson‘s when a british journalist paraphrased borisjohnson‘s speech to him and said to presidentjunker, the british run secretary has said that you are a part of a planned to create a british eu superstate which britain is better off out of. look at how the mood changed. some in the british political society or against pretending that i'm stupid, stubborn, that

adam fleming is in brussels. we also heard today from some key figures in brussels.e juncker was doing a of the european commission jean—claudejuncker was doing a news conference in brussels at exactly the same time. he was quite jolly and funny, cracking jokes about the tea and coffee borders that the eu leaders make when they have a summit. but then in the question and a nswer summit. but then in the question and answer session afterwards a british journalist asked if he was aware that the british foreign secretary had effectively said that president jean—claude juncker was part of had effectively said that president jean—claudejuncker was part of a plot to create a meet eu superstate. at that point the mood changed dramatically. as you can see in the clip. some in the british political society are pretending i'm a stupid, stubborn federalist in favour of a european superstate. i'm strictly against a european superstate. we are not the united states of america, we are the european union which is a rich body because we have these 27, 28 nations. the which is a rich

adam fleming is in brussels.a may speaks about this transition period and what should or shouldn't happen during it? the mep who chairs the european pa rliament‘s during it? the mep who chairs the european parliament's brexit steering group, an influential and loud voice in this debate, he is off work sick today that he tweeted from his sick bed to say this is absolutely non—negotiable for the eu. the eu would not accept a situation where european citizens who moved to the uk before brexit have one set of rights and then european citizens who moved to the uk after brexit budgerigar transition period have a completely different set of rights to their compatriots. the european commission, the organisation that ru ns commission, the organisation that runs the brexit talks on a day—to—day basis, one of their vice presidents was asked about it today, he said he did want to comment on state m e nts he said he did want to comment on statements made by the british primers on the other side of the world, he would only rea

our correspondent, adam fleming, has been following developments in brussels, and i spoke to him earliernts. the first thing to say is donald tusk was responding to reports of what the british government agreed adam ate our long meeting of the cabinet at the prime minister's country residence yesterday and he does not to the british position in detail and will not until he meets theresa may in london next thursday and the rest of us won't know until the prime minister gives a speech detailing it the day after on friday. having said that, that was a pretty brutal put—down of what donald tusk, the sort of thing he has been hearing from london. when he talks about this philosophy, he is talking about the idea that the eu has all along had the idea that britain cannot pick parts of the single market it was to stay in and enjoy the benefits of while leaving others to decide. it cannot pick which rules it wants to follow and riders are the rules, which is the brexit policy of the eu and has been since last year when the talks started. the way he delivered the words as well, he seemed pretty gl

our correspondent adam fleming is in brussels. todayis today is a significant day for anyone who watches these negotiations, today is a day which could change the future of them. yes, we will get this 120 page document with 168 paragraphs, a few protocols and annexes thrown in for good measure so not easy reading. everyone is looking at the language about the irish border and preventing physical infrastructure. in september three options were agreed, option that a is an amazing trade agreement which obviates the border, option b means that you use technology so you don't have to have a hard border, and option c, the most controversial and the uk government's least favourite, is that northern ireland sticks to the eu's rules on trade, customs and all sorts of things. 0ption eu's rules on trade, customs and all sorts of things. option c is the option that will be detailed in legal language over a whole lot of pages today. however the document will not do options left a and b but there has not been an opportunity to negotiate that so

let's speak to our brussels reporter adam fleming.future relationship and the uk's approach this morning, i understand that was going to be oliver robinson, chief civil servant brexit negotiator on speaking with the deputy of michel barnier, his opposite number, i have heard that michel barnier can to meeting and oliver robinson is unable to speak with him because they are not at the same level, michel barnier negotiates only with david davis. the meeting will take place at the right level, however, european sources are saying that will not happen this afternoon, instead they will have a talk about future dates and negotiating rounds. —— oliie robbins. that is frankly a mess, and we will only know what happens by tea—time tonight, that is one of four things i heard in the press conference where there were problems between the two sides. let's talk through a couple of the others, on the irish border, that was quite interesting, because he was saying border checks would be unavoidable, if the uk leaves the customs union and the single m

we will hear from adam flemings in we will hear from adam flemings in brussels in a moment.to the bbc‘s political correspondent eleanor garnier in westminster. it is about borisjohnson once again. it is and i think he thought he was being helpful but he seems to have put his foot in it because he used a potentially toxic phrase. in his letter which has been leaked to sky news, the foreign secretary says to the prime minister, 95% of traffic would still pass across the border between the northern ireland and the republic and checked if there was a hard border. it is that last bit, if there was a hard border, that has allowed critics to suggest that boris johnson border, that has allowed critics to suggest that borisjohnson and maybe the government also has been considering a regime of physical infrastructure at the border. that is why that idea would bea border. that is why that idea would be a complete anathema to republicans, nationalists, to this irish government, and that is why downing street moved so quickly to saveit downing street moved so quickly to save it has not c

let's talk to our correspondent, adam fleming, in strasbourg.his document which was published today by the european commission, which is a first draft of some possible legal text about the transition period that could end up in the withdrawal agreement, the final brexit treaty. 0ne agreement, the final brexit treaty. one of the footnotes says yes, we need to consider this mechanism whereby if the uk isjudged to have broken the rules by the eu during the transition period, the eu could shut off access to elements of the single market as a result. 0ne shut off access to elements of the single market as a result. one of michel barnier‘s advisers has been tweeting, say this is the sort of close the eu puts in any trade agreement. it is perfectly normal. it is important to be clear what this document is. it's a first draft from the european commission. it has not been signed off yet by the other 27 member states of the eu, the states that are staying in. and there are some intriguing differences. 0ne diplomat said this is what you need when there is

it is all about brexit, that's adam fleming reporting.from brussels, political europe's 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 it's very... the process has drawn a lot of criticism in the eu. some leaders still think that it's 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 didn't want to lose the power that nation states have of influencing the decision, who els

anyway, we'll leave it there, adam thank you very much, adam fleming in brussels.b also shared a handshake with the south korean president. with me now is a reader in diplomatic and international studies at the school of oriental and african studies at the university of london. focusing on diplomacy through sport. an historic handshake. already being called that. around the world as such. is it? it certainly has a degree of ramifications, certainly, there will clearly be thoughts flowing from this that mean diplomacy, the opposition for the conversation has been provided through sport. —— the opportunity. it doesn't mean to say there haven't been opportunities in the past where sport has become part of the conversation. we have a great lens on the world of diplomacy in this olympic games. through history reads in olympics playing a vital role. sometimes a not positive role in international relations. when we talk about two neighbours like this, it isa talk about two neighbours like this, it is a bit weird we're celebrating the fact one has crossed the border to go

adam fleming is in brussels for us.gh what michel barnier said this morning, he didn't seem to be drawn very much on this message from downing street saying that britain would not be staying in the customs union. no, he batted away all questions about the stuff that is in today's news. he would not be drawn on the difference is and whether the customs union was the only option that was available and whether that was ruled out after brexit. you do not want to talk about the timetable or the stability or otherwise of the british government. he stuck to the message, which is, we have got to get a move on. time is ticking, one of his favourite phrases, so he says he will accelerate his useful contacts, not just with the will accelerate his useful contacts, notjust with the uk but with other eu institutions. here is what he had to say as he arrived to get on his train to london. i am very pleased to catch up with david davis just ahead of the new round of negotiations which will begin tomorrow morning in brussels for the wee

one day, one crisis at a time. 0ur brussels reporter adam fleming explained why michel barnier had madeier says the same thing every time. he is not doing the negotiations from that podium in that building. some of that is tactics and putting pressure on the united kingdom. but he's also saying things that the eu believes very strongly and fundamentally and they boil down to four key things. number one, they do not want the single market to be messed with, the rules are the rules. number two, they are quite worried about the idea of a united kingdom on the outside still having influence on the inside. david davis the brexit secretary says it is ok for the eu to defend and protect its own interests, but the uk absolutely has to be allowed to do the same thing, and that is what this process is all about, finding a compromise between the two sides. that is the philosophical side. the practical things we learned are the negotiations about a transition period are going to happen. it will not be waved through oi’ happen. it will not be waved through or nodded through like some people thought

adam fleming has been saying that you'd leaders will be suggesting negotiating trade deals with the ukmeeting and i asked them about the sort of thing david davies was talking about and they were broadly welcoming that they make two points. this is what the eu does with all its international partners anyway, seeing if you follow the rules of the eu you will get good access to the eu you will get good access to the eu you will get good access to the eu market stop if you try to undercut the eu rules or do something less safely than the eu wa nt something less safely than the eu want you to do it you will get less access to the eu market. the second is that the eu does not operate on speeches and warm words and edges on politicians, they want things that are written down, very detailed, and legally enforceable. that means expanding this speech with detailed proposals about how this would work in practice. things like, what authority would you have that check that check that both sides were playing by the same rules and standards? how would you settle disputes between both sides? what pun

let's talk to our brussels correspondent adam fleming. what can we expect? is 120 pages long with 168 paragraphs which will lay out the pledges from both sides that were made in december and turn it into the kind of language that we will see in the treaties. it is very important and it will be interesting to see what the reaction is when those pledges are written down in black and white. some people are suggesting there could be some concern of the european court of justice and how to handle the irish border. we will have to see tomorrow when it is published. lots of speculation about what it will say. michel barnier was speaking earlier, he was updating the countries in which he does every month. here is how he summed up the state of play when it comes to the talks of the implementation phase. translation: there are significant points of disagreement with the uk as to what we understand by transition, the conditions for such and the dimensions of such a transition. for example, the duration of the transition. logically enough, we wish it to end on the 31st

adam fleming talking to my colleague a short time ago.ain closed today —— because of a continuing lack of their key ingredient, chicken. the fast food chain, which has nearly 900 outlets, blames problems after switching to a new delivery firm dhl. it's encouraging staff to take leave while restaurants are closed. but the majority of outlets are franchises — which means many workers could be hit hard, as our correspondent sima kotecha reports. for chicken lovers and fast—food fans it is another day of sadness. hundreds of kfc stores closed across the country because of a shortage of britain's most popular bird meat. absolutely unbelievable, how can you run out of chicken in a kfc? this kfc in the centre of birmingham is open but it has a limited menu. it serves only chicken popcorn. the chain says almost 600 remain closed around the country and it is not clear when they will be back open. kfc says it has happened because it has changed distributors. it used to use south african owned company bidvest to transport chicken but recently change

adam fleming can join adam fleming canjoin me now. i saw you in the news conference earlier.ech as we hear, what michel barnier is about everything is that there is no movement and things are still stalled. we need to break it down into a few things. he said that he is concerned about their disagreements as he sees it between the uk and eu on how this transition period should work the period that the uk prefers to call in fermentation face. it will one from brexit day in march 2019 to either the end of december 2023 month after that as the uk's visit. here is what michel barnier had to say about how the negotiations were going so far. there are significant points of disagreement with the uk as to what we understand by transition, the conditions for such and the dimensions. for example, the duration. logically enough, we wish it to end on the 31st of december 2020. the uk would like to maintain this duration openly, which is not possible. ijust i just bumped into ijust bumped into the senior people on the brexit negotiating team as they were walking into the european commissio

joining us now from brussels is our reporter adam fleming.n has been to these latest comments from theresa may and the rights of eu citizens. good morning from the european parliament. this afternoon there was going to be a public hearing with meps, senior members of the european parliament and representatives from the campaign groups representing eu nationals living in the uk and british national party and the rest of the eu. this is a live issue in this building today. we will have to wait and see what people say about it but i expect we will hear a restate m e nt it but i expect we will hear a restatement of the eu's position. they call the transition period the full monty minors. mine is because the uk would be in the european commission, the european council or the european parliament and the full monty because they are signing up during that transition period to all eu law in every respect, which includes the free movement of people. that is what this argument will be about. if you look back at the agreement that was signed between ther

first, to adam fleming who's in brussels. ore can you tell us about the leaked document and what it suggests about the sort of sanctions that the eu might have in the transition phase? it is not a lea ked the transition phase? it is not a leaked document any more because it has just been published officially by the european commission's brexit task force on their website. it's important ina task force on their website. it's important in a symbolic way because it is the first draft of legal wording that will end up in the final withdrawal agreement, the brexit treaty that will field the uk's departure from the eu. before we have had position papers and directive guidelines. these are words that will go into that important treaty. that's the first reason it is important. secondly, buried away in footnote number four at the bottom of one the pages were it says there will have to be a mechanism whereby if the uk does not stick to the eu's is doing the transition period and that issue cannot be solved in time by the european court

we will go to brussels and hear from adam fleming with reaction. nothing mad max to worry about.newspapers, meaning when eu finance ministers arrived for the meeting in brussels this morning i could ask what they thought about some of the concept. this is what they had to say. i think it is in each other's interest... do you trust the uk or is there a lack of trust? not on our part. i would trust of the uk, definitely. in this day and age you cannot be selfish and go it alone. it is impossible. each side would realise that. if there is a certain free flow of goods obviously the standards must be the same. if you wa nt total standards must be the same. if you want total liberty on the one hand and do what you want on standards and do what you want on standards and other things, you cannot have a free entrance of gertz. that is how it balances. —— of goods.” free entrance of gertz. that is how it balances. -- of goods. i always trust the british politicians, of course. but we need... what one politician says today, you might have new politicians and new governments in the years to

let's stay with the whole issue of brexit. 0ur brussels reporter adam fleming joins us from the europeant a member today of the discussions? no, this isjust the discussions? no, this isjust the 27 remaining eu countries, their leaders having an informal meeting rather than technically a summit. brexit, the way i would put it is that it's not the theme tune but it is the background music, it sort of i’u ns is the background music, it sort of ru ns to is the background music, it sort of runs to as a little threat to everything being discussed today. we've just had resident macron, chancellor merkel and the italian minister talking about migration, but the bulk of the discussions will be about institutional matters and the future of the eu after brexit. they have got to approve a plan of what to do about the seeds of the uk members of the european parliament that will not exist any more after brexit, they will talk about the process for appointing a successor tojean—claude process for appointing a successor to jean—claude jonker, whose term process for appointing a successor tojean—claudejo

a speech titled europe — back on track at a conference taking place in brussels. 0ur reporter adam flemingkeep a year out. it is billed as a big brexit speech but with presidentjuncker you never know. in terms of what is happening in chequers today, this is about the uk government and the senior figures, the cabinet, getting around the table and agreeing a position about what they want the shape of the future relationship to look like. the reason they are doing that now is because at the end of march leaders of the remaining 27 eu countries will have a summit where they will adopt some guidelines for they will adopt some guidelines for the next age brexit talks, phase two, which is all about deciding the shape of the future relationship. the uk once an opening offers and to have influence on that discussion amongst the eu leaders so that talks about face two can get off on a good foot. here in brussels they love along meeting but what they love even more is details from the uk government about what they want from the future relationship so they can get down to negotiating that. how much se

eu leaders are meeting today to discuss life after brexit, reporter adam fleming is in brussels.day and what is happening? so this is a meeting of the 27 remaining eu leaders here in brussels, brexit is not the theme chin but it is the background music, they will be talking about life after brexit, as you said, lots of technical things, what do you do with the seats that members of the european parliament have that they will no longer need, some will be spread around other countries, some left in reserve, what do you do about hiring a replacement for the president of the european commission, jean—claude juncker, whose term of office ends just after brexit happens next year, coincidentally. the real big one, how do you fill the brexit sized hole that will appear in the multi—annual budget of the eu from 2021 onwards, they reckon it is £13 billion and there will be months and months of arguments about that, do you raise new money? find new ways? ask countries that pay into the budget to pay more? they are not happy about that. ask countries who receive money from the budget to rece

our reporter adam fleming has been looking at them so adam, what's the eu been saying? and get her ducks in a row, but there are some over there as well?m get her ducks in a row, but there are some over there as well? it is the concept that has been floated by theresa may, in her florence speech last year, which has got the nickname the three baskets. it envisages areas where the eu and the uk have the same goal, through the same rules and regulations. number two, areas of the economy where they have the same goal but richard through different methods, and areas where they diverged coakley and have different roles altogether. eu officials discussed that approach a couple of weeks ago. a document emerged from the european commission showing that brexit negotiators said the concept was incompatible with the concept was incompatible with the eu's brexit guidelines, designed to protect the integrity of the single market. so, pouring cold water on the idea, even before it gets out of the blocks with the british cabinet. as alex was saying, this is all about formulating an op

adam fleming reporting there. in the past decade. figures from public health england show that while the majority of strokes occur in people over the age of 70, more than a third of first time strokes hit adults between a0 and 69. here‘s our health correspondent, catherine burns. i had a stroke. adrian jones was just 53 when he happened to him. he says his stroke has changed his life, that he used to walk 50 miles a week, now he struggles over short distances. i didn‘t feel too great straight away and when i twisted and tried to stand up, i immediately fell over and i couldn‘t feel, i had no sensation on my left side at all. so, i didn‘t know what had happened, obviously panicking. the older you are, the greater your chance of having a stroke, but the average age for men having a first stroke has fallen from 71 to 68. for women, it‘s gone from 75 to 73. figures from public health england show almost 60% of first—time stroke patients were 70 or over. but there‘s been an increase in middle—aged people being affected

lets talk to our adam fleming who is in brussels.ying as i introduced this, it is a huge butt of all this because the eu will have the final say. technically the eu only negotiates with the uk government at the place in the time. it is considered interesting but theoretical here in brussels. when theoretical here in brussels. when the european commission have their conference as they do every day, all the questions were internal matters and just one question was put about corbyn‘s speech and there was no a nswer corbyn‘s speech and there was no answer which was frustrating. some of the principles we know the eu has about the brexit negotiations we can pick out two things. the eu is concerned about what they called a level playing field, which they see is fairand no level playing field, which they see is fair and no undercutting of one side by the other and they are concerned about state page which is the idea of the government intervening in certain areas of the economy with loads of money that would benefit the uk at the expense of