BBrexit Behind Closed Doors

2 Hour International Journeyman Version


POST PRODUCTION SCRIPT

Duration: 59’37”





S

BBrexit Behind Closed Doors

2 Hour International Journeyman Version


POST PRODUCTION SCRIPT

Duration: 59’37”





S



A FILMS OF RECORD / MENUETTO PRODUCTION



POST-PRODUCTION SCRIPT PREPARED BY

WWW.SOSPEEDY.CO.UK

Brexit Behind Closed Doors

An Films of Record / Menuetto Production


Post Production Script


TIME

VISUAL

AUDIO


MUSIC 

10:00:00

start of programme



10:00:00



10:00:11






10:00:18




10:00:23

CU: RAIN FALLING ON WINDOW


GFX CAPTION:

on a rainy day in june 2016 the united kingdom voted to leave the european union


GFX CAPTION:

51.9% voted leave

48.1% voted remain


GFX CAPTION:

the British prime minister set the brexit divorce in motion with a tough message to the eu



10:00:30






10:00:47

GUY VERHOFSTADT WORKING IN HIS OFFICE


THERESA MAY AT PRESS BRIEFING


GFX CAPTION:

theresa may

British prime minister

THERESA MAY:

After Brexit, Britain wants to remain a good friend and neighbour to Europe.  Yet I know there are some voices calling for a punitive deal that punishes Britain and discourages other countries from taking the same path.  And while I am confident that this scenario need never arise, while I am sure a positive agreement can be reached, I am equally clear that no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain.









IN:

10:00:59

10:00:59



10:01:01

GUY VERHOFSTADT’S OFFICE


GFX CAPTION:

OFFICES OF GUY VERHOFSTADT

BREXIT COORDINATOR FOR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT


BRAM DELEN ARRIVES



10:01:26

GUY VERHOFSTADT ARRIVES IN HIS OFFICE

SUBTITLES

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] So they want to be a bit harder or what?


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] That’s for tomorrow.  


EDEL CROSSE: (OOV)

[SUBTITLES] I will call you back in five minutes. OK.  He’ll call in five minutes.







OUT:

10:01:46

10:01:50

GUY VERHOFSTADT AND A guillaume mclaughlin MEET IN GUY’S OFFICE

guillaume mclaughlin: (OOV)

[SUBTITLES] Can you put the speakerphone on, so I can listen in?


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] If you don’t make any noise. 


guillaume mclaughlin:

[SUBTITLES] Of course not, I’ll just sit here. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Hello, I’m here!


EDEL CROSSE: (OOV)

[SUBTITLES] One second.  One second, I’ll put you through.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[LAUGHS] [SUBTITLES] She thinks I’m talking to her. 


10:02:09





























10:02:47

GUY VERHOFSTADT ON A PHONE CALL IN HIS OFFICE




























EXT. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

GUY VERHOFSTADT: [ON PHONE CALL]

Shh.  [SUBTITLES] Hello? 


MICHAEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] Hello? Hello Guy, how are you?


GUY VERHOFSTADT: [ON PHONE CALL]

[SUBTITLES] Fine. Have things been OK the last few days, Michel (Barnier)?


MICHAEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] Frankly speaking, just between the two of us, there’s no justification in discussing the future relationship between the EU and UK in combination with their debts. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:  [ON PHONE CALL]

[SUBTITLES] No, I agree, you’re completely right. 


MICHAEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] I’ll tell them tomorrow quite brutally, calmly but clearly, that this is not negotiable. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:  [ON PHONE CALL]

[SUBTITLES] OK. Keep up the good work tomorrow. 


MICHAEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] Don’t say any of this publicly. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:  [ON PHONE CALL]

[SUBTITLES] No, no, I wont. I wont. Bye. 


10:02:57


10:03:02



GFX CAPTION:

European Parliament

brussels - belgium

COMM:

The Brexit referendum in June 2016 shook the European Union to its core.  Brussels straight away started preparations for what they assumed would be a tough divorce battle, because the British are famous diplomats and negotiators. The European Parliament set up the Brexit Steering Group led by Guy Verhofstadt, Michel Barnier was appointed Chief EU Brexit Negotiator, secrecy was paramount.


10:03:25

int. european parliament


michel barnier and guy verhofstadt talk with a group of men

MICHEL BARNIER OOV:
[SUBTITLES] You’re not filming are you? 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Yes, he is but it’s not a problem. It won’t be shown straight away. 


MICHEL BARNIER OOV:
[SUBTITLES] You’re not filming?


10:03:33





10:03:35

EXT: DOWNING STREET


PROTESTORS ARE SHOUTING


GFX CAPTION:

10 downing street

london – uk

PROTESTORS OOV:
[SUBTITLES] Stop Brexit! Save Britain!


10:03:39







GUY VERHOFSTADT DEPARTS FROM DOWNING STREET

COMM:

High level international diplomacy and negotiations like the Brexit divorce defined the lives of millions.  They are carried out on our behalf as citizens, but take place mostly behind closed doors.  We rarely get to see what really happens.  Guy Verhofstadt and his team broke that rule and gave me, a Belgian filmmaker access to their side of the dispute during the two whole years of the negotiations.


10:04:11

GUY VERHOFSTADT AND HIS TEAM IN A CAR

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] They are going nowhere.


MALE: (OOV)

[SUBTITLES] They’re stuck. And she was super stressed, did you see it?


BRAM DELEN:

Yeah.


MALE: (OOV)

[SUBTITLES] We’ve seen how desperate the situation us.


MALE: (OOV)

[SUBTITLES] They’ll say “No, we promised to leave.”


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] And that is not leave, it’s not leave enough. It’s leave but not enough. Because people are going to think it’s a sale. It’s not a sale.


MALE: (OOV) 

[S1] Oh, dear.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] You’re not there. You're not very close to a solution, eh?


MALE: (OOV)

[SUBTITLES] No.


MALE: (OOV)

[SUBTITLES] They will stay.


[LAUGHTER]


MALE: (OOV) 

[SUBTITLES] The worst possible outcome.




































IN:

10:04:39

10:04:46

GFX CAPTION:

DIPLOMACY IS THE ART OF TELLING people TO GO TO HELL IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY ASK FOR DIRECTIONS


WINSTON CHURCHILL



10:05:03

TITLE GFX:

BREXIT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS



10:05:13

EXT. ITALIAN LANDSCAPE


GFX CAPTION:

UMBRIA

ITALY





OUT:

10:05:23

10:05:25

10:05:31

INT. GUY VERHOFSTADT’S HOUSE, ITALY


GUY SITS IN STUDY


GUY WORKS IN WINE CELLAR


COMM:

Guy Maurice Marie Louise Verhofstadt is a former prime minister of Belgium, he led his country in the heart of Europe for almost 10 years.  But whenever he had a moment to spare, he put his two kids in the car and drove to Italy where he restored an old villa with a vineyard.  Seven years ago, he started making wine, around 3,000 bottles a year.


10:06:05


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] A politician who works, that will make an original programme!


10:06:13

GUY FILLS WINE BOTTLES

COMM:

As a prime minister of Belgium, Verhofstadt refined the art of compromise, working in coalitions with both the left and from the right.  After 10 years in power, rather than retire, he moved to the European stage where he became one of the most vocal and passionate members of the European Parliament.  The result of the Brexit referendum in June 2016 devastated him.  According to his wife, Dominique, he watched the news all night and kept repeating, “It can’t be true.”


10:06:58

INT. GUY’S HOUSE – GUY AND HIS WIFE ARE COOKING



GUY SITTING IN DARKENED ROOM, LOOKING AT MOBILE PHONE

COMM: (CONT'D)

Verhofstadt and his wife have been together since they were 17.  Dominique Verkinderen has her own career as a professional classical singer. The couple spend a lot of time apart, but Umbria brings them together, physically at least.


10:07:15


DOMINIQUE VERKINDERN: (OOV)

[SUBTITLES] Where is Guy? 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Here.


10:07:21





10:07:31



BRAM DELEN WORKING ON MOBILE PHONE


GFX CAPTION:

bram delen

speech writer

COMM:

Verhofstadt is not there, really, he’s in Brussels with his Belgian speech writer Bram Delen, they are finalising a speech on what Europe means for the Brexit coordinator of the European Parliament.


10:07:36







10:08:11

BRAM DELEN WORKING ON COMPUTER, GUY LOOKING AT MOBILE PHONE





GFX CAPTION:

rome

italy


GUY VERHOFSTADT AND BRAM DELEN ON STREET IN ROME

GUY VERHOFSTADT: (OOV)

[SUBTITLES] It’s not chocolate, it’s not beer, it’s not Tintin that is typically Belgian. No, it’s our love for Europe! And this is not a matter of choice. For us it is simply existential. Existential! Our country, our lands were the battlefield for Europe for too long. They all passed through here. The French, the Germans, twice, the Spanish, the Dutch, the Austrians. Religious wars, succession wars, trench wars with millions of deaths. And the first use of chemical weapons. Only Europe can save is from this misery of the past. 


10:08:34

STREET IN ROME – GUY VERHOFSTADT ADDRESSES THE CROWD

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] We show here, dear friends, that not only nationalists and populists but also Europeans who can fight back in the coming years. To keep our independence with regard to Putin, with regard to Trump, with regard to everybody who wants in fact to be a threat to us.


10:08:55

10:08:58



10:08:59







10:09:27

EXT. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT



GFX CAPTION:

European Parliament

strasbourg – france


GUY WORKING IN OFFICE WITH GUILLAUME


GFX CAPTION:

guillaume mclaughlin

chief of staff


COMM:

As Brexit coordinator for the European Parliament Guy Verhofstadt will have to use the skills he developed as prime minister at the head of coalition governments.  Directing behind the scenes he has to make sure that  over 700 parliamentarians from across the political spectrum speak with one voice during the negotiations.  It’s the painstaking and tedious side of democracy.  His main aide and fellow sufferer is Guillaume McLaughlin.  As a child of six Guillaume helped his British father and French mother, campaigned for the UK to be part of Europe. Together they put pro-European stickers on cars. Now Guillaume must help navigate Britain’s exit.


10:09:43

guy and guillaume work on press article

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

Yeah, um… [SUBTITLES] Nobody was against the text where it said: “This will be an unprecedented and regrettable event in the history of the EU”?


guillaume mclaughlin:

Yeah. [SUBTITLES] Somebody said it was no good. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] No, it was okay, even the word regrettable. They said: “We want to say regrettable.” I wanted to get rid of regrettable. But then they said, “No, don’t get rid of regrettable!  It is regrettable!”  You could start with saying: “Whereas this will be an unprecedented and regrettable event.” Full stop. Yeah? 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

Mm-hmm.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Yeah, do it now.


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] I’ve got it here. I’m doing it. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] No, you have to do it here!


guillaume mclaughlin:

[SUBTITLES] Yeah, but here…


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] No, that’s your reaction… That’s Nick’s text. Okay, change it.


guillaume mclaughlin:

[SUBTITLES] This is my text from last night.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] But that is not important. What we decide now is important.








































IN:

10:10:39

10:10:41

int. european parliament

COMM:

Guy Verhofstadt had to fight hard for the European Parliament to have a role in the Brexit negotiations alongside the European Council and the European Commission.


10:10:51

guy addressing european parliament


guy’s staff watch on monitor from office

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] What they are proposing is simply to say, “We go forward with the Brexit negotiations but without the parliament.”  You are not aware we have to approve these arrangements at the end?  Must we open separate negotiations with the British authorities? Is it that what you want?  You can have that, parallel negotiations.  Maybe I can quote you a famous phrase by Linden B. Johnson. He said once said: “Better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in.”  Maybe that’s an appropriate reality that you can relay to the European Council. Thank you.


10:11:24



10:11:26

ext. european parliament


GFX CAPTION:

European Parliament

brussels – belgium



10:11:28

ext. european parliament

COMM:

Verhofstadt won, the European Parliament would be fully involved in the Brexit negotiations together with the two other big European institutions – the European Council where the heads of the member states gather, and the European Commission, Europe’s vast civil service.






OUT:

10:11:42

10:11:45

int. guy verhofstadt’s office

[INAUDIBLE CHAT]


EDEL CROSSE: (OOV)

We don’t have any clarification for time this morning.


10:11:50






guy and guillaume sitting in office, reading documents

COMM:

Next Verhofstadt set up Brexit Steering Group with representatives of all the major political groups in the European Parliament.  The Brexit Steering Group spent several months drafting guidelines for the negotiations.  Tonight they will finalise them ahead of the start of the talks.  Edel Crosse, the Irish organiser of the team deals with the practical details.


10:12:22



10:12:25

EDEL CROSSE MEETS WITH BRAM DELEN


GFX CAPTION:

edel crosse

head of personal office

EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] And we could actually deliberately keep a space free for Brok here. That we could wangle.  I can put a dossier on it or something. 


BRAM DELEN:

[SUBTITLES] Why don’t we use little name tags? Elmar? Roberto? 


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] Herr Brok. Darling, the other darling. 


10:12:44

BRAM’S MEETING WITH EDEL ENDS

COMM:

Bram Delen will record the meeting on his mobile phone.


10:12:48













10:13:13

INT. BREXIT STEERING GROUP MEETING – MEETING STARTS

MAN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] Before the meeting starts, we will vote on the text. If there’s a majority we will stop the meeting. Good proposal!


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[S} I have had enough of this text. Because you always read the same thing. You think: “Isn’t that done already?”


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] I found paragraph six a bit too weak. I think it should be more clear that it is full citizenship. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Stop it now! I don’t want to hear it.  I—I want to…  [SUBTITLES] There is a camera there. Do you see that?  (Ooh.)  The reason it’s there is I want at least one image of our meetings.  Then I come to the general principles. In Five we have deleted ‘resorting to threats,’ You asked for that, so that’s out.


10:13:40











10:13:56

meeting (CONT'D)











GFX CAPTION:

danuta hÜbner

christian democrat – poland

GUY VERHOFSTADT: (CONT'D)

[SUBTITLES] In Six we have changed “would” in line four into “should”. 


danuta hÜbner:

[SUBTITLES] I disagree with it. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Why do you disagree?


danuta hÜbner:

[SUBTITLES] No, I fully agree with what you have agreed. But by saying it this way, we don’t set the condition for negotiation, that these things are ruled out.


10:14:09

guy pours wine for meeting members

MAN OOV:
[S} I work better with wine. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] With wine? Me too. If we reach an agreement with the Brits, are going to pour 100 of these.


10:14:23

meeting (CONT'D), they are drinking wine











BRUSSELS SKYLINE – NIGHT

GUY VERHOFSTADT: (CONT'D)

[SUBTITLES] This is the Brexit Steering Group. Together for two years! Yeah!  [LAUGHS]  And the transition period too… Another three years!


MALE: (OOV) 

[SUBTITLES] At least.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] At least.


[LAUGHTER]






IN:

10:14:37

10:14:46

EXT. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT – NIGHT

COMM:

The members of the Brexit Steering Group have known each other for many years, but that does not mean they fully trust each other, the guidelines they’ve worked on were supposed to remain secret, but they are leaked to the press the evening before Theresa May triggers Article 50, the official declaration that in two years’ time, the UK is leaving the EU.


10:15:10

INT. DINING ROOM – GUILLAUME MEETS WITH EDEL AND BRAM

MAN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] It’s in the fucking Guardian, have you seen it? 


BRAM DELEN:

[SUBTITLES] Are you surprised, honestly? Guillaume!


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] Well, it’s not bad that it is only in the Guardian today.


BRAM DELEN:

[SUBTITLES] Yeah, it surprises me that it is only in there today.


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] God save the queen.


BRAM DELEN:

[SUBTITLES] Are you honestly surprised?


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] Yeah, I’m really pissed off.


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] Why?


BRAM DELEN:

[SUBTITLES] Come on… Brok, Gualtieri, Lamberts?


STÉPHANIE RISO:

[SUBTITLES] We have to be able to trust those people. How else can you do stuff? 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] We’re gonna have to negotiate with them over the next year and a half. How do you do it?


STÉPHANIE RISO:

[SUBTITLES] How do you do it? It’s really shit.


BRAM DELEN:

[SUBTITLES] It’s surprises me that you’re surprised. 


STÉPHANIE RISO:

Listen, where do we live then, you know, if…?


BRAM DELEN:

Huh?


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] It’s crazy. 




OUT:

10:15:16

10:15:55

int. dining room – guy verhofstadt has arrived

BRAM DELEN:

[SUBTITLES] Who’s calling, Lode?


10:15:59


COMM:

Verhofstadt had gathered his team to prepare a press conference about the triggering of Article 50, as usual he has lots of thoughts to share.


10:16:08

int. dining room – guy meets with his team

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] I should say that it will be Parliament that will adopt this withdrawal agreement and the new partnership.  That is the first thing that I have. (yeah) I’m giving that to you. And a second thing that I have. This one. 


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] Want me to sit and hold your hand and help you read Hoff’s writing?


BRAM DELEN:

Yeah, that would be helpful. 


[INAUDIBLE CHAT]


10:16:36

BRAM DELEN AND EDEL CROSSE WORK ON A SPEECH

BRAM DELEN:

[SUBTITLES] The point is do we need the punitive expedition?


EDEL CROSSE:

[S} No. No, no. We don’t need it. 


BRAM DELEN:

[SUBTITLES] But let me be clear that it can never be better outside the Union than inside. 


EDEL CROSSE:

[S} It will never be better. “Can never be better” means we’re going to make an effort so it won’t be better. “Will” means we believe genuinely that they will be worse off.  There’s a difference.


BRAM DELEN:

[SUBTITLES] But let me be clear, it will never be better.


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] There you go.


10:17:07






10:17:10

BRAM DELEN IN OFFICE WATCHING THERESA MAY ADDRESS PARLIAMENT ON TELEVISION


GFX CAPTION:

days to exit: 730

29 March 2017

THERESA MAY:

The Article 50 process is now underway and in accordance with the wishes of the British people, the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union.


[CHEERING]


10:17:18


THERESA MAY: (CONT'D)

The referendum last June was divisive at times, not everyone shared the same point of view, or voted the same way.  But Mr Speaker, when I sit around the negotiating table in the months ahead, I will represent every person in the United Kingdom, young and old, rich and poor, city, town, country, and all the villages and hamlets in between. We are one great union of people and nations with a proud history and a bright future.






IN:

10:17:41

10:17:46

BRAM DELEN AND EDEL CROSSE TALKING IN OFFICE

BRAM DELEN:

[SUBTITLES] She’s saying things that everybody knows are completely untrue. More than ever united, it’s the opposite.


10:17:54

10:17:55

GUY VERHOFSTADT IN OFFICE


COMM:

Article 50 is triggered, the EU and the UK now have two years to negotiate their divorce.  But within a month, Theresa May has to admit what Bram Delen had already said.


10:18:08




10:18:12

INT. OFFICE – GUY’S STAFF WATCH THERESA MAY SPEECH


GFX CAPTION:

days to exit: 710

18 april 2017

THERESA MAY:

At this moment of enormous national significance, there should be unity here in Westminster.  But instead there is division.  Division in Westminster will risk our ability to make a success of Brexit and it will cause damaging uncertainty and instability to the country.  So, we need a general election and we need one now.


10:18:32



10:18:38

GUY VERHOFSTADT AT TRAIN STATION


GFX CAPTION:

days to exIT: 658

9 june 2017

COMM:

May hoped to strengthen her majority in parliament but her gamble fails, she loses it and 72 days of negotiating time.



OUT:

10:18:37

10:18:42

GUY interview ON TRAIN PLATFORM

GUY VERHOFSTADT: (IV)

[SUBTITLES] They don’t have a majority. They can, of course, join forces with the DUP, the Northern Ireland Unionists. That might give them a majority of one or two seats. It’s madness. [LAUGHS]


10:18:59

INT. TRAIN – GUY VERHOFSTADT AND GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN TALKING








THE WAITER SERVES BREAKFAST

GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] There’s a draft tweet. Clouds over the British Isles but in Brussels a clear sky, perfect conditions to plan the future. Nick sent it to me. He says: “Terrible, the tweet is awful.”  [LAUGHS]


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Say I agree, but give me another one.


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

Agree. [SUBTITLES] What’s your alternative?


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] What is this? Butter? 


WAITER:
[SUBTITLES] Liege syrup. 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] Ah, Liege syrup!


WAITER:

[SUBTITLES] There’s honey. Would you like that? 


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] No thanks. 


WAITER:
[SUBTITLES] Enjoy your meal. Have a good trip. 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] Thank you. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] I can’t find my pills, shit. 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] That is annoying. And, of course, the Brexit clock is ticking. The clock keeps ticking. There’s no mechanism to say: “Now we pause.”


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] It’s weakening the position of the UK, what’s happening. 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] May may resign in two hours. They will chop off her head. They will chop off her head! They are ruthless, the Tories. They’re fucking ruthless.


10:20:11



10:20:11


10:20:13

EXT. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT – DAY


GFX CAPTION:

European Parliament

strasbourg – france 






COMM:

Theresa May remains prime minister but to have a majority in the UK parliament she does indeed need to make a deal with the small party from Northern Ireland, the DUP.  They give her 10 crucial extra seats.


10:20:33



10:20:38

INT. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT


GFX CAPTION:

days to exit: 654

13 June 2017

COMM: (CONT'D)

Meanwhile, the Brexit negotiations still haven’t started, so when Michel Barnier and his Norwegian team leader, Georg Riekeles come to give the Brexit Steering Group a first update on their work, they don’t have much to report.


10:20:51







10:21:23







10:21:48




10:21:57


10:22:04

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT in session






GFX CAPTION:

michel barnier

eu chief brexit negotiator










GFX CAPTION:

ELMAR BROK

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRAT – GERMANY

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Normally we had foreseen that this would be the first meeting in the official cycle of negotiations.  But [LAUGHS] like we say in English, we don't know, when this official cycle of negotiations will really start.


MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] I don’t know who the British negotiator will be. I see that Mr Davis is Secretary of State for Brexit again. In Mrs May’s cabinet, he came to see me yesterday, Olly Robbins is her right-hand man. I can’t say who it’ll be. All I can say is that as European negotiator we want a representative who is available, stable and reliable. Yes. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] We can’t ask too much of the British, don’t overdo it. Elmar? Elmar? 


ELMAR BROK:

[SUBTITLES] Thank you very much. We hear all the time that because Britain is in a mess, we have to a bit to help them. That would be tactically a totally wrong situation.  Tactically a wrong decision.  But the temptation to do so will become very great.  I’m very clear that we should do nothing.  We are ready and they have to come to us.  And we have to wait while the air becomes thinner and thinner as we waste time.
























IN:

10:22:17

10:22:29



10:22:29

ext. european commission – day


GFX CAPTION:

days to exit: 648

19 june 2017


int. european commission – members arriving

COMM:

The negotiations between the EU and the UK finally start in June 2017.  The British immediately want to talk about their future relationship with the EU, but Michel Barnier says no.  First three divorce issues need to be settled.  Financial obligations, the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and the Irish border. Barnier calls it sequencing – first the divorce, then the new relationship.


10:23:04



10:23:04

david davis addresses european commission


GFX CAPTION:

david davis

uk brexit secretary

DAVID DAVIS:

[SUBTITLES] We had robust but constructive talks this week. Clearly there’s a lot left to talk about and further work before getting results. Ultimately, getting a solution will require flexibility from both sides.


10:23:22



10:23:23

european commission meeting


GFX CAPTION:

days to exit: 639

28 june 2017

MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] The EU delegation was well-prepared. It seems to me, we can speak frankly to each other, better than the UK. Which allowed us to set the tone and the agenda.  David Davis told me even before the first round: “We can do everything in two years, a free trade deal and the divorce.” I told him that this is technically, politically and legally impossible. So we will do sequencing. 

OUT:

10:23:22

10:23:57



10:23:59

ext. european parliament – day


GFX CAPTION:

European Parliament

strasbourg – france






IN:

10:24:00

10:24:02

eric yanda exits camper van


int. restaurant


eric places guy’s breakfast on his desk and makes coffee


guy has breakfast at desk


bram working at computer

COMM:

Two weeks later, the European Parliament relocates from Brussels to Strasbourg, it does so once a month for four days.  Eric Yanda (ph.) Guy Verhofstadt’s personal assistant, has a camper to sleep in and every morning in Strasbourg he does the same thing – gets his boss a croissant.  The start of the Brexit negotiations was a relief but it’s also a problem for Guy Verhofstadt and the European Parliament.  Michel Barnier will now get most of the media attention.  To keep the Brexit Steering Group in the picture, Bram is asked to write an article that can be published in all major European newspapers.  Verhofstadt wants the parliament to carve out its own pivotal role.


10:25:14





10:25:24


10:25:35






10:25:45


10:25:46



10:25:57







10:26:16



10:26:17






10:26:31



10:26:33

int. meeting room – guy’s team meet






GFX CAPTION:

roberto gualtieri

socialist – italy






GFX CAPTION:

elmar brok

christian democrat  - germany

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] We are now going to be working for weeks and weeks and parliament will not be heard in the whole thing. If we don’t say something. 


roberto gualtieri:

[SUBTITLES] I think that the article was very good but was too harsh in tone. This is signed by all the people involved in the negotiations. We are her to convince them that Brexit was a mistake. We are not here to—to make fun of them. So we should a little bit more… Because otherwise we just put oil on the fire.


ELMAR BROK:

[SUBTITLES] Roberto, you are partly right but not about everything.  For example, it says: “It was a cold shower.” We should not delete a sentence like that. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] It needs to be printed. All the newspapers need to take it.  If it is not sexy as an article, they won’t take it.  If you want to see it in every newspaper, next week, everywhere, then you need a lot of…  It’s not insulting to say that it was a cold shower for us, eh?


ROBERTO GUALTIERI:

Yeah, but that’s…


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Our role is different from that of a negotiator. He has to use us, in saying: “You know, you have seen how our Parliament reacts? It’s impossible. I will never get this through!”


ROBERTO GUALTIERI:

I left… I—I think… I think…


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] That’s the idea!  OK, what are we going to do?  All this? Who is going to do it?


ROBERTO GUALTIERI:

Normally, uh, my colleague Bram would be doing it now, but I didn’t know you were going to make all these very constructive comments.


OUT:

10:25:15

10:26:52







10:26:53

INT. GUY VERHOFSTADT’S OFFICE AT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT


GUY SITS QUIETLY, READING


GFX CAPTION:

european parliament

brussels – belgium










IN:

10:27:01

10:27:05


COMM:

Three weeks later the negotiations are in a rut over the financial settlement.


10:27:11








10:27:32

GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN AND EDEL CROSSE SITTING IN OFFICE, WATCHING British PARLIAMENT SESSION ON TELEVISION



GFX CAPTION:

boris johnson

uk foreign secretary

MP:

Since we joined the common market on the 1st of January 1973, until the date we leave, we will have given the EU and its predecessors, in today’s money, in real terms, a total of £209 billion.  Will the Foreign Secretary make it clear to the EU that if they want a penny piece more, they can go whistle?


BORIS JOHNSON:

I—I—I’m sure that, uh, my honourable friends words will have broken like a thunder clap over Brussels, and I think, uh, to go whistle is—is an entirely appropriate expression.












OUT:

10:27:40

10:27:43

MICHEL BARNIER ADDRESSES EUROPEAN COMMISSION

MICHEL BARNIER:

I—I don’t want to make any comment, uh, I, uh, I’m not hearing any whistling, just a clock ticking.


10:28:00





10:28:00

INT. EUROPEAN COMMISSION – GUY AND MICHEL MEET WITH A GROUP OF MEN


GFX CAPTION:

days to exit: 624

13 july 2017

MAN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] Did you at least make some progress this week? 


MICHEL BARNIER:

Yes, thanks to the pressure you’re applying. But it was a brutal week. 


MAN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] It was very good, what you said about whistling and the clock ticking. 


MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] When he told us to go to hell. No, but even the presence of David Davis, until yesterday… He prefers to be in London, close to the fight there. 


[INAUDIBLE CHAT]


10:28:25

INT. EUROPEAN COMMISSION – MEETING IN SESSION

MALE: (OOV)

[SUBTITLES] Michel, what we do if there is no paper on the financial settlement by the end of August?


MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] We won’t accept 27 paying for what has been agreed upon by 28. They tell us that it is up to the 27 remaining Member States to sort themselves out. Implying that what we decided together to pay as a Union should now only be paid by us. “We leave and you continue to pay everyone’s pension.” Or things like research grants. Or the loan to Ukraine. 


10:28:59




10:29:02



10:29:19

INT. CAR – GUY VERHOFSTADT IS DRIVING TO CALAIS





GFX CAPTION:

eurostar terminal

CALAIS – france


GUY DRIVES THROUGH BORDER, ONTO EUROSTAR


SILVERSTONE: GUY PREPARING TO RACE





COMM:

It’s the middle of the summer of 2017 and the Brexit negotiations are going nowhere, but Verhofstadt does, he’s off racing to Silverstone in the UK.  If the EU and the UK cannot make a deal in 18 months, this border could become a closed border again with the threat of long queues of trucks, arduous checks of every import and export, and ordinary citizens needing a visa to travel.  Without a deal, the UK risks becoming a country with the same relationship to the EU as China, Russia or Zimbabwe. For Verhofstadt, a no deal exit of the UK would be a horror, because he likes the British almost as much as he loves his classic Aston Martin.

















IN:

10:29:57

10:30:04

GFX CAPTION:

days to exit: 610

27 july 2017


GUY VERHOFSTADT DRIVES ONTO TRACK, THE RACE BEGINS



10:30:53

INT. GUY’S CAR, HE HAS BROKEN DOWN


OIL DRIPS FROM THE SUMP


GUY ARRIVES BACK AT THE PITS AND EXITS CAR

COMM:

Verhofstadt doesn't do much racing in Silverstone because his Aston Martin keeps breaking down.  To make things worse UK Brexit Secretary David Davis is there to witness his pain.

OUT:

10:30:53

10:31:11

guy stands in pits talking to a group of men

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] It's a difficult track. Your breaks go… It goes like that and only when you’re twenty centimetres from the end, then they brake. Must be beating fast. And then you go, you go… But then at the end you put it in first so that you brake with your motor too. And then you go ahead. And then, you go in and it understeers. [LAUGHS] 


10:31:42

guy drives back onto eurostar


guy looks at mobile phone

COMM:

On the way back to Belgium for seven long hours Verhofstadt checks old cars on his mobile in the same detailed concentrated way he studies Brexit files.


10:32:02




10:32:06

BREXIT STEERING TEAM MEETING


GFX CAPTION:

DAYS TO EXIT: 579

28 AUGUST 2017















edel in her office, SHE IS KNEELING ON THE FLOOR

MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] Shouldn’t you take your pills? 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Ah yes, those are the pills for my heart. This is to reduce the number of heart beats, to fifty. Because I have stents. And this is to make the blood fluid. 


MICHEL BERNIER:

[SUBTITLES] I also take these. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] And this is to reduce the cholesterol. And statins. 


MICHEL BERNIER:

[SUBTITLES] I also take those. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] And this is to continue drinking wine. [LAUGHS]


MICHEL BERNIER:

[SUBTITLES] He takes pills to correct things. Then takes a fourth one that allows him to do everything. This is a good tactic. I take two like those there. I don’t put them in front of me. I take one in the morning and in the evening. 


EDEL CROSSE: (PTC)

[SUBTITLES] That’s not good news.  I’m damned if I know where to stick them. I swear, I have no clue.  Oh my God!  Panic.


10:33:12














10:33:42







10:33:53



10:33:58

INT. MEETING ROOM – MEETING CONTINUES























GFX CAPTION:

STÉPHANIE RISO

ADVISOR

MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] So did you got to Italy? 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Yes, but first I saw Mr Davis at Silverstone. Do you want to see some pictures? [LAUGHS] We didn’t talk about anything, of course. 


MAN 1:

[SUBTITLES] Yours? 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Yes, yes. Very British, eh? 


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] That’s what they’re trying to do with Brexit… Take an old car and restore it. 


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] Restore an old car. 


STÉPHANIE RISO:

[SUBTITLES] They say: “If there are checks at the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, we don’t want them, we can let everything pass. It’s fine. So the problem is a European problem. So if ever we need to reinstate checks, create a physical border, it will be the Europeans’ fault.” Another very interesting thing is that they are using the Irish border as a test case for all their borders. Meaning, the more flexible we are on the Irish border, the more flexibility they’ll demand for the rest. 


10:34:26



10:34:27




10:34:41

edel and guy traveling on road in rain


GFX CAPTION:

days to exit: 556

19 september 2017


GFX CAPTION:

northern ireland – uk

road to the republic of ireland in the south

COMM:

Two weeks later Verhofstadt travels to Ireland.  Edel wants her boss to see for himself what Brexit may do to her country.  Edel grew up in the Republic, in the south, the part of the island that will remain a member of the European Union.  Northern Ireland will leave the EU together with the United Kingdom.  But it's hard to see where the North stops and where the Republic in the South begins.  The road marks should go from white to yellow.


10:34:58

GUY AND EDEL TRAVELING (CONT'D) 















THE CAR STOPS, THEY TALK TO A MAN AND WOMAN ON THE STREET

EDEL CROSSE:

There's your yellow lines.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

Yellow lines.


MALE: (OOV)

No that's double, that's a double yellow line, that just means you can't part there.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

Yeah, that's something different.


MALE: (OOV)

It's the single yellow line.


MAN IN STREET 1:

Hi.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

Are we in the Republic or not?


LADY IN STREET:

You are.


DECLAN FEARON:

Declan Fearon.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

We are in the Republic here?


DECLAN FEARON:

No you're not, you have to cross that bridge.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

There, there, there yeah.


DECLAN FEARON:

And change your money here before you go.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

And change your money and see that it is yellow and not white.


EDEL CROSSE:

Hi Maureen (ph.) sorry we—we're running a bit behind...


10:35:23

guy and edel talk to people on street (CONT'D)

DECLAN FEARON:

The old customs post that was well blown up is over there.


MAN IN STREET 2:

No it's here, no just there.


MALE:

No that's the Irish one.


DECLAN FEARON:

This is the Northern Ireland one across here.


10:35:32


10:35:34



10:35:35




10:35:39


10:35:41





10:35:57

GUY VERHOFSTADT AND TEAM MEET WITH DECLAN FEARON and team, THEY LOOK AT PHOTOGRAPHS








GFX CAPTION:

declan fearon

businessman – republic of northern ireland


GFX CAPTION:

john sheridan

farmer – northern ireland



DECLAN FEARON:

That's green isn't it yeah?


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

Yeah if you look to the...it's like a—it's like i—in the water, neh?


JOHN SHERIDAN:

That's what it was like way down at the bottom, huge, huge military infrastructure.  That—that happened in the early ‘60s the roads were closed, originally closed.  I remember going through a border a—a—a British Army check point uh, on one side of the border a Southern Irish Army check point on the other side of the border.  Into Blacklion 300 yards further, stopped by the guards who were backed up with Irish army.  I went a c...ahead into Belcoo, I had to go through the Irish customs first, cross the bridge, go through the Northern customs and then I had go up to the police barracks in the centre of Belcoo.  All the time being watched by a camera.  I don't want to see those struggles coming back.  Europe brought peace to me.


10:36:22


10:36:23

ext. belfast – day


GFX CAPTION:

belfast

capital of northern ireland – uk



10:36:32




10:36:49

belfast street scenes


ext. stormont


GFX CAPTION:

stormont

parliament of northern ireland

COMM:

The conflict on the Irish island ended in 1998.  The soldiers disappeared, the control posts as well.  The border became invisible.  But when Northern Ireland leaves the EU together with the UK, everything that crossed the border between the two parts of the island will have to be checked again.


10:36:55



10:37:05

guy and team meet with mps at stormont


GFX CAPTION:

captain doug beattie

uup – northern ireland

CAPTAIN DOUG BEATTIE:

I've been a soldier for 35 years, and part of that time was spent standing on the border, uh, at border check points checking vehicles across.  Um, I lost many ci...colleagues killed on the border, um, many families bereaved, uh, it was many innocent women and children killed on the border.  Many families bereaved.  There was many terrorists killed on the border, many families bereaved.  If we have a hard border of any shape or form, North or South, we will create a flash point for trouble once again.


10:37:30

stormont meeting (CONT'D)

CAPTAIN DOUG BEATTIE:

[CONT] If we use this as a bargaining chip then we are going to create and fill more coffins and there will be more bereaved people.


10:37:42




10:37:49









10:38:39

guy verhofstadt addresses european parliament


GFX CAPTION:

european parliament

strasbourg – france







street scene – brussels

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] I’d never been in North Ireland, I’d never been to Belfast, but I went there and I thought: “Ireland has not been on our television screens for twenty years, the problems are solved, it’s a bit like Berlin, the Berlin wall disappeared and everything goes well.” Well, I can tell you, it was a shock, because the reality is that the problems are not over. And the worst thing what can happen is that we lose the peace that Europe has brought there.  [APPLAUSE] I stood next to the Memorial Monument, where you see pictures of young people, fifteen or sixteen years old, who died in the conflict, based on nationalism, based on extremism. Ensuring that this violence doesn’t return is, I think, an absolute priority for our house. [APPLAUSE]














IN:

10:38:39

10:38:44


10:38:49



GFX CAPTION:

days to exit: 550

25 september 2017


int. david davis’ house

COMM:

Shortly after his Ireland trip Guy Verhofstadt is invited to the UK permanent residence in Brussels for tea with David Davis the UK Brexit secretary.


10:39:00

guy and his team arrive at david davis’ house

DAVID DAVIS:

Just arrived, just arrived?


[INAUDIBLE CHAT]


10:39:10

guy verhofstadt meets with his team at david davis’ house

GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] David Davis told us Ireland is not a problem. They have lots of control systems. They know everybody who is going in and out, they have automatic whatever. They’ll take a loss in excise duties but it doesn’t really matter. 

So basically, we don't give a fuck what crosses the borders. We know who the baddies are. There might be a problem with terrorism but OK…  


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] They’re going to find them. 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] That was more or less what he said.


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] So head in the fucking clouds.


10:39:41

GUY VERHOFSTADT MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF UK PARLIAMENT

ANDREW ROSINDELL MP:
[SUBTITLES] Andrew Rosindell, hello. 


COMM:

That same afternoon Verhofstadt receives a number of UK members of parliament.

OUT:

10:39:43

10:39:49




10:39:55

10:39:59





10:40:07








10:40:32

guy meeting with uk mps




GFX CAPTION:

andrew rosindell mp

conservative

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] You've come to inform me what the solution is for Ireland and Northern Ireland?  I hope so. 


ANDREW ROSINDELL MP:

[SUBTITLES] I know that you're upset that Britain's leaving the EU but to politicise this decision, to punish Britain, you're punishing Ireland as well.  We need an open border, for travel and for trade.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] But we're punishing nobody. What we are talking in is the consequence of a decision.  That's the point!

For example, if for one reason or another there is no deal.  We didn’t start talking about no deal, eh? The UK started talking about no deal. “No deal is better than a bad deal.” Who has said that?  Not us!


ANDREW ROSINDELL MP:

[SUBTITLES] The UK is a free-trading, seafaring, outward-looking global nation, why would we want to box ourselves in?  And the decision has been made. And I say again, Britain will not be imposing a border, so you would have to… the EU would harm people of Ireland by imposing this hard border.  That's the solution.


10:40:54



10:40:56




10:41:00




10:41:02





10:41:08



10:41:11




10:41:14

guy meeting with uk mps (CONT'D)

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] We don’t want a barrier, we already said…


ANDREW ROSINDELL MP:

[SUBTITLES] So let's just agree not to have it and carry on as we are.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Yes, but that’s not what you want because you’re leaving…


ANDREW ROSINDELL MP:

No, it’s nothing… yeah but [UNCLEAR].


[INAUDIBLE CHAT]


MALE: (OOV) 

[SUBTITLES] It’s a fascinating discussion, it's quite interesting…


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[S} Maybe it would have been better to have had it before the referendum….


MALE: (OOV)

Uh, yeah that's okay.  But just [UNCLEAR] to find out…


10:41:19





10:41:25





10:41:33




10:41:35




10:41:45

int. guy verhofstadt’s office, he meets with edel crosse

EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] I'm most proud of you when you take on a Tory and win. You know that? He was a fucker, yeah? I was delighted.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] And we are… we are causing the problem?! Oh, the EU… You’re leaving! There is no border, you’re creating a border!


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] That's the game, the emotional game.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

It’s good that Nick said: “The chicken with chlorine, that comes in from America.” Our goods? No, our standards, you’re going to follow our standards. 


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] But I like when you pushed back on the EU. “We don't want a border but you guys are going to impose it and poor Ireland will suffer.”


10:41:50



10:41:51



10:41:52



10:41:53



10:41:54



10:41:55



10:41:57

edel and guy talking (CONT'D) 

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

Yeah, and you see like uh, that...


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] You should shoo the fuckers out.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, there is...


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] That’s the a game.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Yeah, yeah, that’s the game. 


EDEL CROSSE:

It's a game, it's an emotional game.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

Yeah, that's the game.


10:42:03

int. offices – janitor is cleaning







guy verhofstadt and team on train

COMM:

Verhofstadt's meeting with British MP's was dominated by a hard Brexiteer from the Conservative Party.  But not all the Conservatives share his ideas. The party lead by Theresa May is very divided over Brexit.  There are hard Brexiteers who would leave the EU even without a deal, soft Brexiteers who want a deal that keeps the UK as closely tied to the EU as possible, and remainers who simply don't want to leave the EU.  May has reconcile all their views and that's proving tricky.  In a speech in Florence in Italy she admits what Europe had predicted, that the talks may take longer than they first thought.




IN:

10:42:15

10:42:48















10:43:36

theresa may making a speech










guy asleep in car, his team are with him


GFX CAPTION:

london

uk

THERESA MAY:

United Kingdom will cease to be a member of the European Union on the 29th of March 2019.  But the fact is that at that point neither the UK nor the EU and its member states will be in a position to implement smoothly many of the detailed arrangements that will underpin this new relationship we seek. For example it will take time to put in place the new immigration system required to retake control of the UK's borders.  A period of implementation would be in our mutual interest, and that is why I am proposing that there should be such a period after the UK leaves the EU.


10:43:43






10:43:52



10:43:54




10:43:56




10:43:58



10:43:59



10:44:02

guy verhofstadt and team walking on street on london






















guy enters a building

MALE REPORTER:

Guy, hello, how are you?  How encouraged are you by Theresa May's speech?  Is this a move in the right direction?  No, tell me now, tell me right now, come on.  I know I need to hear it from you.  


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[UNCLEAR].  Otherwise you will not stay.


MALE REPORTER:

No, no I'm gonna stay, I'm gonna listen to your every single word.


FEMALE REPORTER:

Do you think Theresa May's speech has allowed for a breakthrough in talks?


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

We're gonna take all this inside, thank you.


MALE REPORTER:

Come on, come on, come on, don't be shy, tell me now.


FEMALE REPORTER:

Are tensions eased between the EU and the UK?

OUT:

10:43:43

10:44:10



10:44:02









10:45:00

guy addresses a convention


GFX CAPTION:

days to exit: 547

28 september 2017







GFX CAPTION:

EGMONT PALACE

BRUSSELS – BELGIUM


EXT. EGMONT PALACE

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

I have to tell you I...it is a little bit surrealistic that I am giving a speech about the future of Europe here in London, uh, the capital of a country, uh, that is about to leave the Union while then Prime Minister May gave her speech on Brexit, uh, in European city, uh, in Florence.  [LAUGHTER] I think she chose Florence because Florentine politics in the 15th century made her feel at home I think, uh, [LAUGHTER].  You know, um, backstabbing... [APPLAUSE] you know, backstabbing… betrayal, noble families fighting for power and—and so on and so on.  So I think that it is, uh, an environment that she recognised uh, uh, very well.


10:45:09





10:45:26







10:45:41



GUY ARRIVES AT EGMONT PALACE


GFX CAPTION:

DAYS TO EXIT: 526

19 OCTOBER 2017


DELEGATES IN DINING ROOM


GFX CAPTION:

MARK RUTTE

PRIME MINISTER – HOLLAND

COMM:

Riven by division themselves the British now try to divide their opponents. Using the tactic Europe had feared they tried to bypass the official EU negotiator and start talking to the heads of member states directly, individually.  Verhofstadt hears all about it at a gathering of liberal prime ministers of Europe. Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of Holland, was phoned by Theresa May just days before.


10:45:43





10:45:48

INT. EGMONT – DELEGATES SITTING AROUND DINING ROOM TABLE FOR MEETING AT EGmont

SUBTITLES








the meeting adjourns

MARK RUTTE:

[SUBTITLES] I spoke to on Friday, in close conjunction with the French and the Germans. And her message was that she has to add meat to her sentence in the Florence speech, where she said: “We will honour our commitments”, which is the exit bill. She then said, “I can't do that, I'll think about.” She spoke to Macron on Sunday, she spoke to Merkel on Monday or Tuesday and no movement.  

In the British press it was reported that I would plead for more flexibility, which is not true. So this was just spin.

I’ll make it clear to the British press that they should not always listen to the spin coming out of Downing Street. 



10:46:35













10:47:20


10:47:26

int. european parliament














GFX CAPTION:

DANUTA HÜBNER

christian democrat – poland

MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] I observe in the political environment, in the press, the intention to bypass the negotiation team, to regard us as stateless Brussels bureaucrats and technocrats who don’t understand anything. And to say: “Let’s talk to heads of the Member States directly.” They’ve tried that several times. But all those who try to divide us are wasting their time. The negotiation team is your team, the team of the 27 Member States. I told them: “it’s your time that you are wasting. We have plenty of time. But you don’t. The clock is ticking.


DANUTA HÜBNER:

[SUBTITLES] What we should have, and I think what you have, Michel, in the back of your mind all the time, is that actually we have a common objective to get rid of them in March 2019.  It's not in our interest not to have a deal at that stage. So it's also in our interest to see whether we can say anything positive.


















IN:

10:47:37

10:47:38



10:47:41

ext. european parliament


GFX CAPTION:

european parliament

brussels – belgium



10:47:46



ws: brussels


int. office – brexit steering group meeting

COMM:

The EU stands strong and United against the UK.  But internally the rivalries remain, even within the Brexit steering group arguments are quick to develop over the fact, for instance, that Verhofstadt sometimes sees Michel Barnier on his own.


OUT:

10:47:50

10:48:05




10:48:15



10:48:16




10:48:21





10:48:29




10:48:33




10:48:38

brexit steering group meeting

ELMAR BROK:

[SUBTITLES] I would like to make a remark. After the round all three of us should go to Barnier together, not just you.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

No.


ELMAR BROK:

[SUBTITLES] It's a question of cooperation. We can do it all individual and have three meetings with Barnier.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Yeah, sorry, but I adhere strictly to what is in the mandate decided by the conference of Presidents. I do not more than that, I do not less than that, I follow that.


ELMAR BROK:

[SUBTITLES] Does it say in it that you can see Barnier on your own?


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

It says that I do the normal contacts with Barnier, so that's what I do, as coordinator.


MALE SPEAKER 2 OOV:

[SUBTITLES] It’s true, it’s normal you meet him more than us because it's your job as coordinator to have regular contact with Barnier. 


10:48:47








10:49:01

brexit steering group meeting (CONT'D)

MALE SPEAKER 2:

[SUBTITLES] There are cases where if we had a short briefing together it would simply be more useful. If it’s possible. If not, you go alone. 


MAN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] Correct, Elmar? 


MALE SPEAKER 3:

[SUBTITLES] I am sure Guy will consider the remarks. 


10:49:20







10:49:38



10:49:49







10:50:06

int. european parliament


bram and nick working







GFX CAPTION:

days to exit: 506

8 november 2017

COMM:

Meanwhile on the other side of the corridor Bram is working with Nick, Verhofstadt's press officer for the UK on a statement about the negotiations.  For the European Parliament, the citizens’ rights are the most important issue.  But it's a very technical matter.


NICK:

[SUBTITLES] For the European Parliament to approve. Eh?


BRAM:

[SUBTITLES] Both direct descendants and dependent relatives, I would… Oh yeah, dependent direct, direct dependent… I would say: “Direct dependent relatives and descendants.”  No? Direct, comma. And direct, dependent…


NICK:

[SUBTITLES] Or the relatives of direct dependents.


[LAUGHTER] 


10:50:10



10:50:12




10:50:18

GUY VERHOFSTADT STANDING IN CORRIDOR

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] What is this?


BRAM:

[SUBTITLES] Nick and I went through it to make it a bit more fluently for the press.


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] It needs to be understandable for people from the outside who are... This is like mathematics. The direct descendants, and ascendants, it's already complicated enough.


IN:

10:50:12

10:50:31

int. guy verhofstadt’s office



view from office window

COMM:

The press release has to make clear that Verhofstadt is annoyed. He doesn't like the British proposal that EU citizen's in the UK must apply to have their existing rights guaranteed after Brexit. If their application is accepted the UK will give them so called settled status. But an application can also be refused. Verhofstadt wants EU citizens to simply be able to declare that they want their rights continued.


10:51:03



10:51:05





10:51:12








10:51:25





10:51:35



10:51:37





10:51:46






10:51:59






10:52:17

guy and GUILLAUME meeting over dinner


GFX CAPTION:

days to exit: 492

22 november 2017

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Oh man, this whole system of citizen’s rights was badly designed at the beginning. The timing, the concept, the name…


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] The name…


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] We’re always in the trenches with the thing. Don’t you have another name? It would be good to have a different one. European status. 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] Yes, well, I don’t know. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] There’s no European citizenship. European status in Britain. No? Why don’t you call it that?


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] I don’t know. We can think about that.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] In politics it's important that… If you want to claim that you have won, you will need a name other than settled status. 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] I think there’s a bigger chance of making technical adjustments that fundamentally change the thing while keeping the name settled status, than changing the name. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] You have to ask for both, come on. The declaratory system, has to be changed and then, at the end of the negotiation, say: “It’s not the same thing anymore, so let’s change the name.” 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] But find a name that they like as well. A name that gives them the impression that they’re in control. Because I think that’s what they like about settled status. The element of control. “We’re the ones to decide.” 

OUT:

10:51:05

10:52:33

10:52:37


10:52:42








10:53:00

ext. european parliament


GFX CAPTION:

european parliament

brussels – belgium


int. european parliament, guy and colleagues talking


GFX CAPTION:

DAYS TO EXIT: 487

27 NOVEMBER 2017


COMM:

Late November 2017 the negotiations enter a crucial phase.  The British urgently want to start talks about their future relationship with the EU.  But Barnier insists on the agreed sequencing, first there need to be sufficient progress on the three divorce issues.  Rumours ran that the financial settlement is sorted, but nobody knows for sure.  Barnier's deputy, Sabine Weyand, and his assistant [UNCLEAR] come to give the Brexit Steering Group an update.


10:53:13

brexit steering group meet with sabine weyand

SABINE WEYAND:

And they’ve digested the money, yes, [SUBTITLES] The money is an issue with the tabloid press but not with the parliamentarians. Until we have it in writing and signed off by Theresa May in blood, you never know. On citizens’ rights we are now zooming in on the outstanding issues. And that is normal. But that should not distract from the fact that we have achieved quite a lot at these negotiations.


10:53:40





10:53:50



10:53:51




10:53:56







10:54:09



10:54:12

steering group meeting (CONT'D)

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] This question of children born in a new relationship after Brexit, that are not covered, while children before are covered. If that comes here, I can tell you...


SABINE WEYAND:

[SUBTITLES] No, absolutely...


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Not only we are killed, but you also. It’s going to be everybody. 


SABINE WEYAND:

[SUBTITLES] We fully agree on that and I think it's very ugly because UK wants to protect lawyers but doesn’t want to protect children. Politically speaking that is not really a good message to send. And that's what we’re trying to drive home.


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] It could be worse, bankers and children.


SABINE WEYAND:

[SUBTITLES] I think they want to do bankers, lawyers but not children [LAUGHS].  But maybe they will protect the children of bankers and lawyers. No, but it is an issue, and we always tell the UK: “That’s your problem that you are treating your citizens so badly and you can simply change that by treating your own citizens better.” But politically we have to see that that is extremely difficult for them.


10:54:41




10:54:46

steering group meeting (CONT'D)

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] OK, maybe we can go to Ireland, Northern Ireland now?


SABINE WEYAND:

[SUBTITLES] This has now become, over the last few weeks, probably the most intractable problem of the negotiations.  I think that, as with all other issues, it is only the Prime Minister who, in the end, can commit the government. What we know is that, she is really very, very, very keen to have sufficient progress at the December European Council. And we are now testing how far that keenness takes her. Both on the citizens' rights and on the Irish issue.


10:55:27








10:56:06

int. guy verhofstadt’s offices


guy eats dinner at desk

FEMALE:

[SUBTITLES] Eat the chips now while they’re hot, before they get cold. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT: (OOV)

[SUBTITLES] It’s always the same ones who have to work. But with a nice glass of wine. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT: (OOV)

[SUBTITLES] OK. Martine? I’m done here. If you don’t take the bottle away I’ll finish it. 







IN:

10:56:02

10:56:17




10:56:20

ext. european commission, press are gathering 


GFX CAPTION:

days to exit: 480

4 december 2017

COMM:

The moment of truth about sufficient progress arrives on Monday the 4th of December 2017.  Theresa May is flying in to Brussels to discuss over lunch the last details of a deal.


10:56:33



10:56:35




10:56:38



10:56:39




10:56:52




10:56:56








10:57:17

guy verhofstadt leaves after meeting at european council, he addresses the press

REPORTER:

[SUBTITLES] Is there gonna be a deal?


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] For the moment there is no deal, there is no agreement.


REPORTER:

[SUBTITLES] Nothing today?  No prospect today?


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] No, I'm optimistic that it is possible, 50/50. But we have to be sure that everything is OK on citizens' rights. 


REPORTER:

[SUBTITLES] It seems there’s a deal on the money? So, you’re happy with that?


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] You know that was always the request of the EU. It's not a question of a punishment, it's also a question of whatever bill is to be paid. It's normal when you leave an organisation, that you honour your obligations.  It's like in a divorce. Nobody can leave his wife and say: “The money is for you to sort out.”


REPORTER:

[SUBTITLES] And Ireland, Mr Verhofstadt?













OUT:

10:56:47

10:57:21

guy’s car departs the european council

COMM:

In his rush to escape the media Verhofstadt forgets a colleague from the Brexit Steering Group. 


10:57:29

ext. european parliament

COMM:

Nobody in the EU really doubts that there is a deal until Guillaume gets a message from Barnier's Norwegian assistant, Georg Riekeles.


10:57:40



10:57:41



10:57:42









10:58:16


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] There’s no deal.


MALE:

[SUBTITLES] What?


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] No deal. Georg says there's no deal.  That's what Georg says: “No deal. May got angry about your request that it has to be a ‘declaration’. She said: “Too bad for the EU citizens.”” Really? Really? He’s taking the piss. Hello, Georg. Your Norwegian humour is mediocre. No deal, there’s no deal. This time it’s not Norwegian humour.   


MALE:

[SUBTITLES] He doesn't know the details. He’s just passing on the message. It's not clear.


















IN:

10:58:21

10:58:25



GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN WALKS THROUGH. 

COMM:

More phone calls follow and a possible explanation emerges. One of the Brexit steering group members leaked information in a TV interview. And Arlene Foster of the DUP, May’s small but crucial coalition partner didn’t like what she heard about the Irish border. 


10:58:45



GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] Mr Lamberts is to blame. 


MAN 2 OOV:

[SUBTITLES] You must be joking.


10:58:50

MEN TALKING IN OFFICE




A WOMAN CHECKS HER PHONE, THEN LEAVES THE ROOM

GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] What an idiot. It’s pretty clear you don’t come out and say all that happened in one of the fucking meetings. They show you the documents and things that will be discussed an hour later at the fucking lunch with the Prime Minister, and you go out and say: “It says all of this.”





out: 10:58:59

10:59:03


GUILLAUME IN CORRIDOR TALKING ON MOBILE. 

GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN [ON PHONE]:

[SUBTITLES] She clearly did not discuss the text with Arlene Foster before she came to Brussels. That’s obvious. 


10:59:12

THE GROUP SIT NEAR THE TV. 

GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] That she got onto a plane to Brussels without having cleared it with the DUP… What the fuck is wrong with her?


10:59:20


MAN 2:

[SUBTITLES] That’s the point. That’s a point. 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] I mean, that’s insane! [LAUGHS]  She’s there, she’s at this meeting, so the first question for Mrs May… What does Arlene Foster think about it?” “Oh I don’t know, I haven’t spoken to her.” I mean, it’s ridiculous. 


10:59:38







A WOMAN LAUGH

AN ALARM SOUNDING MOBILE RING

MAN 2:

Oh Arlene’s calling. She’s just seen…


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] Oh yeah, oh, that’s a good idea. I hadn’t thought of that.” Pathetic. Pathetic.


10:59:49

EDEL COMES INTO GUILLAUME’S OFFICE

EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] I’m going home to my little one. 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] You must be joking. In the middle of the Brexit collapse. Run by the fucking Irish who are messing everything up and you’re going home?


10:59:59


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] I’m sorry but the organic grocery shop near me closes at six and I need to make it for my organic fucking asparagus. 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] You’re too late to get there by six. 


11:00:09


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] Otherwise my kid will have to eat the supermarket shite. 


11:00:16

GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN ANSWERS THE PHONE.

GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN [ON PHONE]:
[SUBTITLES] Hello, I’m putting you on speakerphone because Eva and Nick are here. 


11:00:22




TEAM START TO MAKE NOTES. 

MAN ON PHONE:
[SUBTITLES] So I was on the phone to Davis and then Juncker. And Davis told me that as far as Ireland is concerned, she had agreed to the text. But then they phoned Foster, because Foster had made a statement. And this statement came as a complete surprise in the meeting. So they phoned and in the end came back and said: “We need more time.” 


11:00:53

VIEW FROM OUTSIDE THE ROOM. 

GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:
[SUBTITLES] And they didn’t expect Arlene Foster to blow up the deal? And it wasn’t a game, May playing the tough fighter in Brussels? 


11:01:06


MAN ON PHONE:
[SUBTITLES] You never know. 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:
[SUBTITLES] It’s not very likely, because she’s not very good at that kind of thing. 




11:01:13

11:01:15

BREXIT STEERING GROUP MEETING



GUY VERHOFSTADT:
[SUBTITLES] Somebody asked me this morning: “What do you think?” I said 50/50. Because I thought if you say 50/50 you’re always right. You give the impression that you’re an intelligent man. You know what you’re saying. Or you can say: “I have a good feeling.” [THEY LAUGH]

Your good feeling wasn’t so good today. 


11:01:39


CAPTION: ELmar brok

brexit steering group

ELMAR BROK:

[SUBTITLES] Can you imagine, you’re Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of great, of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. And you’re sitting in Brussels to negotiate the deal for your country and the deal is nearly ready. And in the middle of that meeting you get a phone call from your coalition partner, saying they’re taking the energy away from you? 


MAN OOV:
Yeah. 

in

11:01:39

11:01:59



NIGHT VIEW OF LARGE OFFICE BUILDING

ELMAR BROK:

[SUBTITLES] It must have been a very painful situation for her, personally. A terrible situation. I can only feel sorry for her. 


11:02:07


11:02:19

GVS OF THE BUILDING – DAY IN SNOW

CAPTION: DAYS TO EXIT: 479

5 December 2017

 


11:02:28


TEAM GATHERING IN OFFICE – moSTLY OUT OF VIEW

COMM:

The next morning the team of EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier comes over to discuss the situation. 


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] A secret debriefing.  No, but really , it should remain secret. 


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] We’ve seen each other already. No, that was yesterday. Everything OK? And we said: “All’s going well.” Yes, we said: “It’s over, we’ll be able to stop this stupidity soon.” 





OUT:

11:02:36

11:02:51


 COMM:

The good mood doesn’t last long, because the Barnier team is terrified of more leaks and of Verhofstadt causing trouble over the issue of citizen strides. 


11:03:03



11:03:06

view of meeting room from doorway. the team begin to discuss

CAPTION: GEORG RIEKELES

ADVISOR TO MICHEL BARNIER

GEORG RIEKELES:
[SUBTITLES] The threshold for stirring up shit is very low at present. The point is, on citizen’s rights, on the financial settlement and Ireland, we’re at the maximum of what we could obtain. Maybe you agree you want ‘declaratory’ instead of an ‘application’ but we think we got the maximum we could get. A lot more in fact than we hoped to get. 


11:03:31

GEORG CONTINUES TALKING TO THE TEAM.  

GEORG RIEKELES:

[CONT] [SUBTITLES] For months and months we kept saying: “The European Parliament will never accept this. We need more, we need more…” May’s position within her own government is delicate. If she doesn’t come back, in a few hours, before the end of this week, to sign this then the most probable scenario is that we end this bloody Brexit with no deal. We’re on a knife edge. In reality what is written there is unacceptable for them. So it’s enough that one small thing, Francois Javelle who took notes. And talks to Canal Plus. 










11:04:10


MAN 1;

[SUBTITLES] Talks about it to his girlfriend, who sends a tweet, “Sources in the European Parliament say that…”,and the shit hits the fan. 



in

11:04:19

11:04:22


MEMBERS OF THE TEAM PACING AROUND TALKING ON MOBILE PHONES. 

 


11:04:26


MAN OOV:

[ON PHONE] Guy, Richard. Richard. Oh wait, wait, wait, wait, wait… 


11:04:34


COMM:

Long days follow, with phone calls and more phone calls. Everyone just waits for Theresa May to return to Brussels, or not to return. 


11:04:44


GUY & GUILLAUME CONTINUE TO PACE UP AND DOWN ON THEIR PHONES. 

 


11:04:55



11:04:56

man at his desk, news channel on the tv in front of him. 

CAPTION: days to exit: 476

8 december 2017


GUILLAUME WATCHING TV IN FRUSTRATION. 

COMM:

Eventually May does come back very early in the morning after changes were made to the solution for the Irish border. An extra paragraph was added to what from now on will be called the Irish border backstop. It will haunt the negotiations until the very end. 


11:05:14





GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN WALKS PACT CAMERA TO JOIN WOMAN 1

EDEL CROSSE OOV:

[SUBTITLES] You watching cartoons? So the only thing we… 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] I spent all yesterday from 5 until 9.30 on the phone. The whole fucking time. May was coming, then she wouldn’t come, then she was, the she wouldn’t. 

OUT:

11:05:15

11:05:27


EDEL CROSSE OOV:

[SUBTITLES] So what’s the story on Ireland?


11:05:28

CUT TO LATER – SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE TEAM TOGETHER. 

GUY VERHOFSTADT:
[SUBTITLES] Paragraph 49 says: No hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. And in 50 it says: No hard border between the UK and Northern Ireland. Yeah. So it’s incompatible.  


11:05:41


MAN OOV [ON TV]:
[SUBTITLES] I want to thank Guy Verhofstadt. We worked a lot and very well together. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT OOV:
[SUBTITLES] A lot? 


EDEL CROSSE OOV:

[SUBTITLES] Well done boss. 


11:05:49


GUY VERHOFSTADT OOV:
[SUBTITLES] And in the meantime he’s preparing more trouble. [THEY LAUGH] Right. Not for now but for next year. 


11:06:01


11:06:04







11:06:29

GVS OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT BUILDING

CAPTION: EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

STRASBOURG – FRANCE 



GUILLAUME LOOKING AT HIS PHONE

CAPTION: DAYS TO EXIT: 472

12 December 2017



COMM:

A year and a half after the Brexit referendum and seven months after the talks began, the EU negotiators believe they have reached a first deal. But a couple of days later Theresa May questions the financial settlement. She says in a letter to her Tory Party members that, ‘nothing is agreed until everything is signed.’ And David Davis, her Brexit Secretary casts doubt on the Irish border deal. They have switched back from negotiating with the EU to talking to their own troops. 


11:06:39



GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN OOV:

[IN FRENCH] 


11:06:43



GUY VERHOFSTADT WITH GUILLAUME AND EDEL WATCHING NEWS


 GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Yes, but that’s already… A statement of intent.  


11:06:47




SOUND OF DAVID DAVIS FROM NEWS REPORT

EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] He said it again. Here we go. Listen.


DAVID DAVIS OOV:
…is we want to protect the peace process and we also want to protect er Ireland from the impact of Brexit for them. 


11:06:58


DAVID DAVIS INTERVIEW

CAPTION: DAVID DAVIS

UK BREXIT SECRETARY

DAVID DAVIS:

So, we you know, this was a statement of intent more than anything else. It was much more a statement of intent than it was a legally enforceable thing. 


11:07:05

GUY VERHOFSTADT WITH GUILLAUME AND EDEL WATCHING INTERVIEW

EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] Much more a statement of intent than a legally enforceable thing. 


11:07:10

11:07:13

GUY IN OFFICE LOOKING AT PHONE. 


WOMAN WALKS IN WITH A DRINK. 


COMM:
The statement of David Davis blows up so much that he is forced to call Verhofstadt to explain himself. 


11:07:22



GUY WALKS OFF

EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] Is he not ringing? 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] No. Watch out for the coffee. It’s hot, it’s hot. 


11:07:28



11:07:32


GUILLAUME COMES IN. 

EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] Your double Averna. 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] I hope you got this on tape. One little coffee, one Averna for the president. And who says we don’t care, eh? 


11:07:41


EDEL LOOKS AT GUILLAUME

EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] He’s gone into the loo and David Davis is due to call. 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] He took his phone. 


11:07:47

EDEL WALKS OUT

EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] But then we can’t listen if he’s in the toilet. 


11:07:52


IN CORRIDOR – GUY WALKS THROUGH – MAN HANDS HIM A PHONE

MAN 1:

[SUBTITLES] Is this David? 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Yes, that’s him.


EDEL CROSSE OOV:

[SUBTITLES] Must be 44. +44.


11:07:57

GUY ANSWERS PHONE

CAMERA FOLLOWS GUY AS HE WALKS THROUGH SEVERAL ROOMS ON THE PHONE. 

GUY LOOKS OUT OF THE WINDOW. 

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] [ON PHONE] Hello? Yes. David, yes, hello. Yeah. [PAUSE] Yeah. [PAUSE] Yeah. Yeah, but you cannot say a statement of intent of a text on the Irish issue, without using the word commitment, it’s a commitment from all sides. But you must know that your words have been in all of the European press for two or three days now. [LAUGHS] No, really. Really. 



11:08:49

STEERING GROUP MEETING

CAPTION: BREXIT STEERING GROUP

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

ELMAR BROK:

[SUBTITLES] People like Davis destroy the trust we have now found in the negotiations. 


WOMAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] You want to mention him by name? 


11:08:58


A MAN LISTENING SHAKES HIS HEAD. 

GUILLAUME LISTENS, SMILING. 

MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] Yes. It’s a political party reacting to a political thing. We are not diplomats saying that… 


MAN 2 OOV:

[SUBTITLES] You could not have been a diplomat. 


11:09:07


MAN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] No, never. 


MAN 3:

[SUBTITLES] But we are not attacking May. She would deserve it, but in the end we know the truth. Yeah, yeah. 


11:09:13



MAN 2:
[SUBTITLES] She said something like it too. 


MAN 3:

[SUBTITLES] Yeah, but not exactly the same.


11:09:16


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] No, she said something about the money. ‘We only pay if we have a good agreement.’ 


WOMAN 1:

[SUBTITLES] Yes, that’s what she said. 


11:09:25


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] But OK, we have a better victim for the moment. 


11:09:30

11:09:38

GV OF A SHELTER IN RAINY WEATHER. GUY LOOKS CLOSELY AT HIS PHONE. 


RALLY CARS DRIVING AROUND COURSE. 


COMM:
The year ends and a new year starts with a skid course. Guy Verhofstadt is preparing for an off-road rally in the spring. But maybe also for the Brexit negotiations that are about to enter a new phase. 





IN

11:09:51

11:09:55

GUY INSIDE RALLY CAR BEING GIVEN INSTRUCTION.

COMM:

After the deal on the three divorce issues, talks will now start on how the EU and the UK see their future relationship. 


11:10:07


RALLY CAR DRIVING ROUND COURSE

 


11:10:18

TEAM GATHERED IN LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM. 

CAPTION: DAYS TO EXIT: 443

10 January 2018

 


11:10:20


COMM:

The team of Barnier has prepared slides with options for the future relationship, depending on how closely the UK wants to remain tied to the EU. 


11:10:30





GFX ON PROJECTOR OF FUTURE RELATIONSHIP PLAN

MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] And the symbolism of the staircase you can ascend or descend works well, both ways. They’re at the top of the staircase now. Yes, at the top. Below, going down. I’ve put the red lines of the UK government. They are doors that open or close. It’s very important to explain that it’s them, not us, who open and close doors. I explained it to the heads of the Member States. The slide was quite successful. I like slides. 

OUT:

11:10:32

11:11:12


MAN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] They become more and more colourful. 


MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] Yes, but that way people understand it.   


11:11:18



11:11:21


THE MEETING ENDS. 

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] OK, thank you very much.  


COMM:
Michel Barnier is a bit of a teacher, but when Verhofstadt asks his team to make a slide of their own, to show at a meeting that Barnier will also attend, it proves to be not so easy. 


11:11:35

GUILLAUME AND TEAM GATHERED TALKING BY COMPUTER – IN OFFICE AT NIGHT

EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] But where does that lead to, that arrow? It makes me want more. 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[LAUGHS] [SUBTITLES] Somewhere else. It takes you somewhere else, Edel. 


11:11:45






GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] I’ve a feeling from Mr Verhofstadt’s reaction to the slide that he’s not gong to use it. 


11:11:51



BRAM DELEN:

[SUBTITLES] Yes. That’s why I’ll stop here.


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] If you want to know what I think, knowing the man just a touch. And he’s in competition, Bram, in direct head-on competition with Barnier. 


11:12:07


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] Who is… the dogs bollocks of…


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] Powerpoint fucking king.  


11:12:12



EDEL CROSSE OOV:

Yeah, he is. He’d be like… 


BRAM DELEN:

[SUBTITLES] At least if he decides to use it, it’s not a complete…


11:12:19


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] Yeah, we don’t, we don’t have to hide our heads in shame forever. [Yeah] Unfortunately I announced to Barnier we would have a slide.  


11:12:26




GUILLAUME LAUGHS

EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] Oh, you created anticipation, that’s the worst thing you could have done. Yeah, that’s the worst thing. A crazy, bad idea. 


11:12:36



GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] Yeah, it’s a bit stupid, I realise this. But I didn’t realise it was going to be quite so challenging. 


EDEL CROSSE:
Mm, mm, mm…





IN:

11:12:44

11:12:45

11:12:53

delegates gathered in large conference room

speeches being made in background. 


COMM:

In the end, Verhofstadt doesn’t use the slide that Bram made. Barnier retains his title as Powerpoint King. 


11:13:09

11:13:10




11:13:13

GUILLAUME IN OFFICE RUBBING HIS EYES. 


guillaume yawns


CAPTION: days to exit: 421

1 FEBRUARY 2018


COMM:

Working for Verhofstadt can be exhausting. Even for the man himself. 







OUT:

11:13:15

11:13:21



EDEL CROSSE ON THE PHONE

EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] I’m going to tell you something but probably going to have to make up a lie to cover it. Mr Verhofstadt is in hospital, it’s nothing serious, he’ll be OK, but it means for 48 hours he’s away. But it’s certainly not for external communication. 


11:13:37

GUILLAUME ON MOBILE PHONE.

GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] Yes, OK. Right. But where are you now? First you went to a hospital in Brussels and then to one in Ghent? 


11:13:48

EDEL CROSSE ON THE PHONE





CALL ENDS. EDEL WALKS THROUGH THE OFFICE. 

EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] OK. I don’t know what you’re going to say, just say due to unforeseen circumstances and you don’t wish to say anymore. OK? Thank you. No, I’ll tell you later. At the moment it’s perfectly under control, it’s not heart. OK? Thanks. Bye. 


If it’s not for external communication, what should I say? Bram, can I have a quick word with you? 


11:14:18

EDEL WITH BRAM IN CORRIDOR. 

BRAM DELEN:

[SUBTITLES] It’s urgent but not serious. It’s a medical emergency. Urgent but not serious. 


11:14:24

NIGHT GV OF CITY. 



11:14:33

GUY IN HIS OFFICE. 

MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] And the kidney stones, you don’t need to do anything else anymore? 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:
[SUBTITLES] Drink, he says. 


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] Drink? [THEY LAUGH] 


11:14:42


THEY CLINK WINE GLASSES. 

GUY VERHOFSTADT:
[SUBTITLES] No, he said, “You don’t drink enough,” he said. I thought that I drank enough. 


11:14:52


11:14:57

GVS trafalgar square 


CAPTION: days to exit: 388

6 march 2018


VERHOFSTADT & TEAM IN CAR. 



COMM:

In March, Verhofstadt travels to London for meetings with the UK Brexit Secretary David Davis and Prime Minister Theresa May. 


11:15:07






GUY LAUGHS. THE CAR PULLS AWAY. 

GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] So we have a light start. 


MAN 1 OOV:

[SUBTITLES] David Davis. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[LAUGHS] [SUBTITLES] Davis, a light start. 


11:15:20



MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] Do you think he still does Brexit? 


MAN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] He’s not in Brussels this week. We can ask him: “Why are you here?” 






IN:

11:15:27

11:15:28


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] They have a cabinet meeting this morning at nine thirty. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:
[SUBTITLES] Ah we can go in, eh? “Do you have problems here?” 


11:15:37



GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:
[SUBTITLES] “Do you want some help?”


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] “Do you need some help?”

 


11:15:41

GVS OF DOWNING STREET

PROTESTORS GATHERING. 

PROTESTORS OOV:
[SUBTITLES] Stop Brexit! Save Britain! 

Stop Brexit! Save Britain!

OUT:

11:15:41

11:15:53



press waiting outside 10 downing street. 

COMM:

Guy Verhofstadt came to find out for himself what kind of future relationship the UK government wants with the EU. But Downing Street does not allow the meetings to be filmed.  


11:16:09

GUY AND TEAM GET BACK IN CAR. 

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] And?


MAN OOV:
Good. It was good. Very good. 


11:16:12



INTERVIEWER OOV:

[SUBTITLES] So you’re happy with the meeting? 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] It went well. Regarding the concept, we hammered it in. 


11:16:21


INTERVIEWER OOV:

[SUBTITLES] The concept?


GUY VERHOFSTADT:
On the concept. [SUBTITLES] Yeah, The point is always that, this cannot er be er successful if, first of all, there is no concept, no architecture for this relationship. Then you fill it in. While now, from their side: “We want this and this and this.” And we explained that, in fact, the consequence is that everybody sees is a cherry picking. 


11:16:47







GUY PUTS HIS HAND OVER THE CAMERA. 

GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] “The Prime Minister explained the vision for the future economic partnership.” I missed that bit of her explanation. The mention in her speech. Maybe I was having a little nip, nap, at that moment. Since there is no vision, it was done very quickly. Maybe I just blinked, closed my eyes. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Stop. 


11:17:13



11:17:29

gvs of tram stop 



CAPTION: DAYS to exit: 290

12 june 2018

GUY AND TEAM TOGETHER IN OFFICE. 

COMM:
The UK needs to make a choice. To do so, Theresa May gathers her ministers at her official country residence called Chequers. From there she wants to publish a white paper, with the British plans for the future relationship between the EU and the UK. The disagreements in her cabinet are huge.  

IN:

11:17:13

11:17:38



GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] OK, right, lets start this bloody shit. We could also say on Brexit we’re expecting the white paper from the British government on the 7th of July. If there are still ministers then. If they have not killed each other in Chequers. That’s harsh, eh? You’re saying that they are fighting with each other. You can do that, with a joke, can’t you? 


OUT:

11:17:44

11:18:00


WOMAN 1:

[SUBTITLES] Yeah, and it’s also true.  


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Plus it’s true. [THEY LAUGH] A joke that is true. 


11:18:07


GUY and others gathered in conference hall MEETING. 

 


11:18:10


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] OK, dear colleagues, I apologise for the small delay. 


11:18:15

10:19:36






REACTIONS OF DELEGATES LISTENING. 

MICHEL BARNIER:
[SUBTITLES] I don’t yet know the white paper’s contents. There’s a serious debate about it going on in their war cabinet. Well, in Mrs May’s cabinet. Where there are many opposing ideas. But we know that there are two big options. The first option is the David Davis one. I saw him on Monday for an hour. It was the first time I’d seen him in three months. Perhaps he told you. Anyway, the first option is to create a kind of mini Union, between the EU, the Europeans and the UK on an equal footing. But if we are on an equal footing, each time we want to change something we have to ask whether they agree. The second option is Theresa May’s. I think I know what she wants from my talks with her negotiators. Her aim is to join the Single Market for goods only. This option is dangerous because it goes against our principle of the integrity of the internal market and the indivisibility of the four freedoms. I’d like to remind you that regarding the value of an item, a telephone for example, between 20 and 40% of its added value, on average, is connected to services or research. Or to data. 


11:19:57


MICHEL BARNIER:
[CONT] [SUBTITLES] So saying we are in regulatory alignment on goods and as for the rest, we’ll do what we want, in particular for services, that is a door that is permanently open to regulatory dumping, thanks to services, on the market of goods. 


11:20:14




THE MEETING ENDS. MEMBERS GET UP AND BEGIN TO LEAVE. 

MAN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] OK. Thank you.  


IN:

11:20:16

11:20:20

11:20:21


11:20:31

GVS OF london EYe and westminster 


CAPTION: DAYS TO EXIT: 282

20 JUNE 2018


COMM:
The negotiations have become a stand off. At stake are the very foundations of the EU. Theresa May negotiates as if there are no founding principles. The EU explains again and again that their principles cannot be flouted. 


11:20:42

11:20:45

pRESS GATHERING 


GUY VERHOFSTADT walks by. 


JOURNALIST:
Good morning sir!


OUT:

11:20:46

11:20:47





11:20:52


DELEGATES IN MEETING HALL. 



CAPTION: home affairs committee 

house of commons – LOndon 

MAN 1:

[SUBTITLES] You are perfectly happy for the UK to have full access to the single market without freedom of the people? 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] No, no. Everybody on the continent understands that when you’re talking about the Single Market, it cannot only be the freedom of movement of goods or services or capital. But that it also needs to be the freedom of movement of people. Because there are some countries in the Single Market, who are specialised in goods. So they have an advantage of the Single Market with their goods.  


11:21:15


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[CONT] [SUBTITLES] Some countries are specialised in services. I think that we are here in the centre, in the capital of a country that is specialised, that has a huge advantage in services. Like other countries in that Single Market because of their work force. And if you want to take out one of these elements, you destroy the concept itself of the Single Market. 


11:21:44

11:21:46


GV millennium bridge & st pauls at night. people crossing bridge


COMM:

In the end, the Chequers debate over which plan to choose for the future relationship is won by Theresa May. But her win comes at a cost. Two of her most important ministers resign – David Davis, the Brexit negotiator and Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary.  


11:22:07

11:22:09

CAPTION: days to exit: 260

12 july 2018


COMM:

The EU doesn’t like May’s Chequers plan either, but the negotiators decide not to criticise it too openly. 


11:22:19



11:22:27

meeting in large conference hall 


CAPTION: sabine weyand 

deputy eu brexit negotiator

SABINE WEYAND:

[SUBTITLES] The UK has asked everyone: “Please don’t shoot this down.” And as I said, we shouldn’t, but at the same time, we should also make it clear in private contacts with the UK, and we all have contacts with them, we should say: “We are ready to give this a shot, but be aware, this is the starting point of serious negotiations of the end point.” At the same time, we should also recognise that they have moved. In certain areas. 


11:22:47



sabine holds her hand above her head. 

sabine moves her hands slightly closer. 

SABINE WEYAND:

[CONT] [SUBTITLES] Until Chequers, they were there in terms of requiring all benefits of membership to be preserved and they were here in terms of the obligations they were ready to accept. I think now, we are there. The question is, what do we do with the remaining gap? 


11:23:02


11:23:08

MAN LISTENING THROUGH HEADPHONES IN PITLANE

CAPTION: ZOLDER

BELGIUM


GUY WITH VINTAGE RACING CAR. 



COMM:

Another Summer starts. The Summer of 2018. Britain now has less than eight months left before leaving the EU, with or without a deal. Guy Verhofstadt takes time of to pursue his passion and goes racing. 


11:23:25



11:23:28


GUY SITTING IN CAR REVVING ENGINE.




GUY GETTING READY

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Yeah, it’s over already. I can’t start. 


COMM:
Guy Verhofstadt goes racing again and this time he has no one to ask for help but me. 


11:23:38

DIRECTOR GOES TO HELP


CARS GOING AROUND RACE TRACK. 

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Could you give me a hand? All this fiddling. This needs to go at the back. 


11:24:08

GUY SITTING IN CAR

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Lode, we forgot my protective goggles. 


11:24:16

11:24:21

GUY SITTING LOOKING SWEATY AFTER RACING SESSION. 


GUY WIPES HIS FACE. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] I’m shattered. What with feeling nervous too.  


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] You were nervous?


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Yes, I was. I think I’m going to take this home and ask Dominique to wash it tonight. I can’t wear it anymore. I wore it yesterday and today. It stinks. 


11:24:52




11:25:06



SHOTS OF LARGE MEETNG ROOM. 

CAPTION: days to exit: 206

4 september 2018

COMM:

The summer doesn’t bring any relief for the negotiations. On the contrary, a new Brexit Secretary has replaced David Davis, but his first encounters with Barnier are difficult. 


11:25:12

barnier ADDRESSING THE GROUP 

MICHEL BARNIER:
[SUBTITLES] We are now meeting with the new British minister Dominic Raab more regularly. That’s not difficult…  


MAN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] You mean, to do better? Every six months was also regularly. 


11:25:27


MICHEL BARNIER:
[SUBTITLES] I said more regularly. 


[SOME LAUGH] 


MICHEL BARNIER:
[SUBTITLES] Now we are dealing with minister Dominic Raab, he comes every week. This may cause, and I am saying this cautiously, coordination problems within the British negotiation team, where clearly they were in the habit of doing things differently. On the issue with Ireland, there was a moment of extremely high tension, when Raab said: “If you don’t accept our demands in the Chequers white paper, the UK-wide solution, the cherry picking, then you are responsible for the disagreement, for no deal, and thus it is you who create borders, because we want to leave it as it is, without borders.”













11:26:24


MICHEL BARNIER:
[CONT] [SUBTITLES] I stopped him there and told him very, very clearly: “Your prime minister Theresa May never dared say this to us, never. On the contrary, she confirmed that the UK is aware of the problems it creates by leaving the EU and the Single Market, that it is aware of tits responsibility. The idea that the creation of a border will be the fault of the Europeans is absolutely unacceptable for us. And if this is the British position, you better tell me straight away so I can inform the European Parliament and Council that discussions are over. Negotiations have failed.” He immediately took his words back, said that wasn’t what he meant. He is not always into nuances, Dominic Raab isn’t… But nuances are important in this discussion. 














in

11:27:22

11:27:24

11:27:32


11:27:40



11:27:56

delegate eating outside building; gvs of local area. 

CAPTION: european parliament

brussels – belgium 

SUBTITLE: DISASTER

SHOTS OF GUY’S OFFICES, PEOPLE DISCUSSING


COMM:
In seven months the UK will leave the EU and the risk is growing that they will do so without a deal. The Irish border has become the core problem. The EU negotiators find nothing in May’s Chequers plan that might resolve it in a way that they find acceptable. But it’s the only plan on the table. They feel trapped and wonder if they made a tactical mistake. 


11:28:00



GUY AND TEAM HAVING MEETING. 

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] It’s not going well… We didn’t react very fiercely to Chequers, but… maybe it would have been better to say from day one: “Hey!”… The Chequers plan has no majority in Britain. The hard Brexiteers are against it, Davis, and the pro-Europeans also. 


11:28:16



MAN OOV:
And also there’s the pro European [UNCLEAR] .


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] And for tactical reasons the whole of Labour is against it.


11:28:24


ROBERTO GUALTIERI OOV:

[SUBTITLES] So everybody is against it! It’s a piece of fiction!


GUY VERHOFSTADT OOV:

Everybody…


11:28:28

11:28:30


CAPTION: ROBERTO GUALTIERI

SOCIALIST – ITALY 

ROBERTO GUALTIERI OOV:
[SUBTITLES] But still, according to our baseline strategy, that’s where we are putting our fish. This fiction will prevail because in the end nobody wants to get rid of the Prime Minister or the power to do so. The Brexiteers in the end, with blood on their hands, will have to go for this and we will buy it, pretending to agree, while we disagree, and everything is just theatrics to make them accept this bloody Brexit! So that’s the scenario we’re looking at! 








IN:

11:28:55

11:28:56



GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Yes, that’s the scenario. 


11:28:58

11:29:04

GVS OF EU BUILDING

CAPTION: DAYS TO EXIT: 190

20 september 2018



TUSK’S INSTAGRAM POST


COMM:
The tensions explode when Theresa May goes to present her Chequers plan to the European Council in Saltsburg. The 27 EU heads of state and government give her a cold reception. And Donald Tusk, the EU president adds insult to injury with an Instagram. It shows Theresa May at the dessert buffet with Tusk saying, “A piece of cake perhaps? Sorry, no cherries.” 


11:29:32






11:29:56

THERESA MAY GIVING PRESS CONFERENCE


GUY & OTHERS IN MEETING


CAPTION: DAYS TO EXIT: 185

25 september 2018

THERESA MAY:
I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it. At this late stage in the negotiations it is not acceptable to simply reject the other side’s proposals without a detailed explanation and counter proposals. 


OUT:

11:29:39

11:30:03

the meeting is in progress

MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] I find it very strange that Mrs May and Mr Raab claim they’ve received a negative response without any explanation. It is not true! It is not true! After publication of the Chequers plan, we clearly told them that there is a clear problem with their cherry picking. 


11:30:29

11:30:31

in the office THE TEAM are watching a conservative party conference on the tv


MAN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] There we go. Make Britain Great Again!


11:30:33




11:30:35




11:30:45

standing ovation for theresa may at the conservative party CONFERENCE

CAPTION: days to exit: 177, 3 october 2018



CAPTION: tory party conference, birmingham - uk





COMM:

On the public stage of the political theatre there is now open war between Europe and London. Theresa May is pushed hard by the Brexiteers in her party to make a strong stand against the bullies from Brussels.


11:30:55


THERESA MAY:

Thank you, thank you very much for that warm welcome. No one wants a good deal more than me [A ha] but that has never meant getting a deal at any cost. Britain isn’t afraid to leave with no deal [Oh fuck off] but we need... [AUDIENCE APPLAUSE].


11:31:17


[CROSS SPEAKING]


11:31:20


THERESA MAY:

It will be tough at first but the resilience and ingenuity of the British people would see us through.


11:31:26


EDEL CROSSE:

Oh the war spirit, yes.


11:31:28



various people watching the conference on the tv inside the parliament meeting room

THERESA MAY:

Some people ask me to rule out no deal, but if I did that I would weaken our negotiating position and have to agree to whatever the EU offers.


11:31:41


VARIOUS:

Hello.


MAN 1:

[SUBTITLES] Hello, Roberto. How are you?


ROBERTO:

[SUBTITLES] Dancing Queen. When Barnier enters, we should play “The Winner Takes It All”. And film it with this…


MAN 1:

[SUBTITLES] With plenty of titles. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Instead of a written statement, something like that would be sexier. 


11:32:06


MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] My belief, from the very start of the negotiations, is that economic and political risks for the UK in the case of no deal, are enormous. As she knows, and all her teams know. She knows very well what a no deal means. Politically, and for the British economy. And for all the businesses, which are opposing it, revolt. 


11:32:33

aerial view of umbria



11:32:36


11:33:41



CAPTION: days to exit: 173, 7 october 2018


verhofstadt arriving at his estate in umbria


gvs. verhofstadt’s estate


gvs. verhofstadt working on the estate, dominique joins him

COMM:

Michel Barnier keeps believing that eventually there will be a deal because no deal would be disastrous for the UK. He goes back to the negotiation table while Guy Verhofstadt travels to Umbria to inspect the grapes and tend his rose garden.  












IN: 11:33:11

11:33:24





guy verhofstadt walking around his villa


exterior view of verhofstadt’s villa

COMM:

Back in Brussels, Michel Barnier is struggling once again with the Irish border backstop. Everybody wants the border between Northern Ireland, part of the UK, and the Irish Republic, part of the EU, to stay open, it’s a guarantee for peace on the Irish island. But if the border stays open goods could enter the EU which might not meet European standards. For the UK that will be fine but for the EU a disaster.


11:33:54



11:34:07

gvs. brussels



CAPTION: days to exit: 165, 15 october 2018

In the end Barnier and the British negotiators reach a compromise, but when May sends her Brexit minister Raab to Brussels for the final details, the unexpected happens again.

OUT: 11:33:57

11:34:12


various people sat in an office having a meeting

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] They came to Brussels, with Raab, and Raab immediately went on the attack and questioned a number of issues that were 100% agreed. There was even a reaction by Olly Robbins to Raab, he said: “Don’t do that, this is agreed!” It’s clear now that in the British government there is no majority, it’s blocked there, in a serious way. 


11:34:44

CAPTION: days to exit: 164, 16 october 2018

everyone milling about in the office



BARNIER WITH GUILLAUME



[CROSS SPEAKING]


MICHEL BARNIER:
[SUBTITLES] We have a problem. Because, in fact, she is now refusing the backstop. She accepted the backstop twice, in December and March, by letter. And she now refused the backstop. 


11:35:09


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] That’s what it amounts to. That’s the result.


11:35:13

people milling about the office/meeting in progress

MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] We are at a key point. In fact, we were ready on Friday to make this agreement but it stuck on the backstop. For me there is also a strategic and tactical reason, which is using Ireland for future negotiations. Isolating Ireland, and not closing this point, leaving it open for the next two or three years. And in that case we will clearly face permanent pressure on the negotiations about trade, the Single Market, because of Ireland. And we have to be careful what the reaction will be of the European Council and the Member States. 


11:36:06


UNKNOWN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] What is your fear? That some countries will then say: “Let this Irish issue go”? 


11:36:14


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] You know what the danger is? If the heads of state think that they have to negotiate that. That would be a danger. Because that… You haven’t… 


11:36:24


ELMAR BROK:

[SUBTITLES] She phones everyone. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Everyone.


11:36:28

gvs. european parliament building strasbourg



11:36:34

CAPTION: european parliament, strasbourg - france 



11:36:38



c/u coat on desk


various people in an office waiting for news

empty office

COMM:

One month later a new attempt is made at finding an agreement on the Irish border backstop. Theresa May has said yes to the plan but now everyone is waiting for the meeting of her cabinet where her ministers also have to agree. If they say yes, the Brexit negotiations may finally come to a conclusion.


11:36:59

CAPTION: days to exit: 135, 14 november 2018



11:37:09

PRESS TEAM sitting together in the press office

INTERVIEWER OOV:
[SUBTITLES] Any famous last quotes? This might be the last image I make of you in your officer here in Strasbourg. 


11:37:16


PRESS TEAM MEMBER 1:

[SUBTITLES] We got rid of them! [LAUGHS].


11:37:18


PRESS TEAM MEMBER 2:

[SUBTITLES] We kicked them out!


11:37:22


PRESS TEAM MEMBER 1:

It’s done.


11:37:23


PRESS TEAM MEMBER 2:

[SUBTITLES] It took us two years. But we managed!


11:37:25


PRESS TEAM MEMBER 1:

[SUBTITLES] It’s done! 


PRESS TEAM MEMBER 2:

[SUBTITLES] On our terms and conditions. [CROSS SPEAKING]


11:37:31


PRESS TEAM MEMBER 1:

We finally turned them into a colony and that was our plan from the first moment. 


11:37:42

verhofstadt waiting with others for news

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Statement following cabinet meeting at Downing Street, but she’s not doing it for the moment.


11:37:54

gvs. strasbourg



11:37:55


COMM:

In the end, the news only arrives very late at night while Bram, Edel and Jeroen, the head of media, have dinner together, all ready to launch a first reaction on social media.


11:38:08

edel is listening to theresa may’s speech

THERESA MAY VO:

[SUBTITLES] The cabinet has just had a long, detailed and passionate debate. The collective decision was that the government should agree. 


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] Here we go. They agreed!


11:38:22

CAPTION: days to exit: 134, 15 november 2018

press following THE TEAM into the building


IN: 11:38:22

11:38:24



THE team walking through the building





everyone arriving for a meeting with barnier

COMM:

The deal that Barnier has reached is 584 pages long, his team needs boxes to carry in copies the next morning. The document legally settles the three divorce issues, including the Irish border backstop. It also agrees on a transition period in which the UK and the EU will further negotiate their future relationship. The main stumbling block, the Irish border backstop was solved by keeping Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom in a temporary customs union with the EU.


11:39:09


MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] Because if you look at the national interest, and the common interest, of both sides, a free trade agreement plus the Customs Union will be the best in the long term. 

OUT: 11:39:09

11:39:17

gvs. european parliament building, strasbourg


IN: 11:39:17

11:39:29






people ARRIVING inside the eu parliament building

COMM:

Finally there is a deal but it still has to be approved by the UK parliament and that is a problem. There is huge resistance to the Irish border backstop, it’s meant to be temporary but it has no end date and the UK cannot stop it without the consent of the EU. The second Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, resigns in protest.






OUT: 11:39:51

11:39:54


COMM:

Under pressure, May delays the vote in her parliament and offers to go back to Brussels to renegotiate.


11:40:02

various people watching the vote in parliament



11:40:03

CAPTION: days to exit: 109, 8 december 2018




view out of the office window

PRESS TEAM MEMBER OOV:

[SUBTITLES] She’s saying “I’m gonna to tour the European capitals.” Giving the impression to her party: “I will renegotiate.” I put in the draft speech something like… Where did I write it? “Mrs May can do as many tours of the European capitals as she wants, we will never negotiate the current agreement.” That’s a bit... Is it too aggressive?


11:40:28

tram travelling past the eu parliament building in strasbourg



11:40:30

11:40:33

11:40:40



CAPTION: days to exit: 73, 15 january 2019


inside the office someone hands verhofstadt a glass of wine


COMM:

The year ends and 2019 starts. The day on which the UK will leave the EU with or without a deal is creeping closer. The European Union has said no to May’s request to renegotiate the Irish border backstop so when she finally allows the UK parliament to vote on her deal she offers nothing new.

IN: 11:40:30

11:41:02

the team have dinner while watching theresa may speaking to UK parliament

THERESA MAY VO:

...Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker, this is the most significant vote that any of us will ever be part of in our political careers, a vote against this deal is a vote for nothing more than uncertainty, division and the very, and the very real risk of no deal or no Brexit at all. [CROSS SPEAKING]


OUT: 11:41:05

11:41:31


JOHN BERKOW VO:

[SUBTITLES] The main question in the name of the Prime Minister… As many as are of her opinion say Aye [Aye!] Of the contrary, No. [No!] [CROSS SPEAKING]


11:41:52


COMM:

The voting system in the UK Parliament is that MPs can first shout yes or no but then have to leave the room to go and vote for real.


11:42:02


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Voting has finished, they’re there.


EDEL CROSSE OOV:

[SUBTITLES] Are we ready for a tweet?


11:42:06


JOHN BERKOW VO:

[SUBTITLES] The ayes to the right, 202. The Noes to the left, 432.


11:42:14


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] What’s that? 230? 


WOMAN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] 230. 230, eh? 


11:42:19


UNKNOWN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] That’s the biggest defeat ever. [Really?] Yeah.


11:42:23

everyone leaving the office for the evening, the press are waiting to speak to verhofstadt

REPORTER OOV:
[SUBTITLES] Mr Verhofstadt, what needs to happen now? 


11:42:29


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] It is clear that a compromise is needed between the various parties in the UK. There is clearly no majority for this agreement. What is needed is for the various parties to work together, the majority and the opposition. So that we know what they want. 


11:42:53


REPORTER OOV:

[SUBTITLES] Sorry, can we have it in English for the country that’s leaving?


11:42:54


REPORTER 2 OOV:

One more question in Dutch.


11:42:56


gvs. european parliament, brussels



11:42:58





11:43:19

Caption: european parliament, brussels – belgium

verhofstadt arriving at the office

CAPTION: days to exit: 65, 23 january 2019

COMM:

The deal Theresa May made with the EU looks dead. More than 100 of her own Tory MPs voted against it. May could try to find an alternative majority with the opposition parties but she doesn’t. Instead more votes follow on amendments that just express an opinion and have no legal status. The opposition parties vote for one amendment, May’s government Tories vote for another and Verhofstadt gets very irritated.


11:43:30


int. office - meeting in progress

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] We should get cross with the British. Or the British political class. A parliament is not a casino, is it? Within fourteen days, again, on a number of amendments… They’ll do the same thing. A little bit there, a bit there and they will pass with a majority of ten, fifteen, that’s what they are doing. 


11:43:56


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] But she’s right.


11:43:57


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] It’s very cynical. Right? Stop the she’s right or not right. You’re joining in her game. You’re joining the game of: Oh, this amendment. Oh, this amendment. Will it pass? No? Yes? Oh it passed. Ah, fifteen. They like it. It’s like a football match. And it’s always the same. What we’re seeing is like Manchester City against Manchester United. Sometimes it’s Manchester City who wins and sometimes Manchester United. But they like it. Again, 1-1, 1-2. No, 2-1 now. And meanwhile… Nothing happens. 


11:44:33

everyone leaves the MEETING; the press are waiting in the hallway



11:44:34


the team walk past the press

michel barnier arrives for a meeting

COMM:

But something of course does happen, the clock keeps ticking, in 64 days the UK is leaving the EU with or without a deal. The time pressure is huge. But maybe that’s a conscious tactic, there is suspicion that May is using her lack of majority to force the EU to agree to a compromise on the backstop.


11:45:01


MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] Theresa May’s strategy is very clear, it is to force us to give in. That was already David Davis’s plan. He repeated it to me several times. “In the end you always do it, you always give in, you always give way.”


11:45:19

11:45:22


CAPTION: phillippe lamberts, green party - belgium 

PHILLIPE LAMBERTS:

[SUBTITLES] A no deal Brexit would be costly for the remaining 27 member states. But destroying the Single Market would be even more costly. So they shouldn’t underestimate the calculation we’ll make. If we choose between two evils, we’ll choose the one that costs us less. And that’s a no deal Brexit. Don’t underestimate us. 


11:45:40

gvs. brussels AT NIGHT



11:45:42


COMM:

A flurry of diplomatic activity starts in which all the main players in the Brexit negotiations come to visit the European parliament.


11:45:54

CAPTION: days to exit: 50, 7 february 2019



11:46:00


int. european parliament, theresa may arriving for a meeting

COMM:

One week later Theresa May also comes to Brussels with a huge entourage, her main Brexit aide, Olly Robbins and around 50 other advisors. Nothing is achieved, the backstop cannot be changed but in London May continues to say that she’s negotiating.


11:46:18


UNKNOWN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] Do you feel there’s a possible of an opening?


11:46:21

verhofstadt talking with his team

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Olly Robbins came to me: “Guy, can I become Belgian citizen after this whole thing because I don’t think I will return?” 


WOMAN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] Olly Robbins? 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Olly Robbins. He was laughing, it was a joke. 


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] He can’t stay in the UK after this. 




IN: 11:46:28

11:46:36

int. office - meeting IN progress

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] You see them next week?


11:46:37

CAPTION: days to exit: 36, 21 february 2019

UNKNOWN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] Yes.


11:46:39


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] They’re going to use again the meetings with you, to say: “There is no need. There is no need, we are busy.” Because for the whole moment this whole thing, their visits last week too, has been a joke. They have nothing to say. They have seen every one of us. They use us. 


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] They use us. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] To show they are busy. To say we’re not having a vote. To delay again. Because we have no interest in a delay. They have to vote now. 


11:47:05


UNKNOWN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] So there isn’t at any level, at a lower technical level, any preparation of a possible text by them?


11:47:10


MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] No no not yet. No text. 


11:47:12


UNKNOWN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] That’s… I’m surprised. So you think that really they are just playing? 



11:47:18


MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] They are not playing. First of all, there are many things we don’t know. Among themselves. It is so complex. I don’t think they are playing a game. They want to gain time. I think she will try to push everybody as close as possible towards the cliff edge. Push them until they can already see the cliff edge. 

 


11:47:44

gvs. european parliament, brussels



11:47:53





11:48:05


int. car, verhofstadt is travelling to the european parliament building

CAPTION: days to exit: 18, 11 march 2019

COMM:

The patience in Europe is wearing thin and filming becomes more difficult. Late at night Guy Verhofstadt is summoned to the European Parliament in Strasbourg where Theresa May has arrived, she wants to make a unilateral declaration about how she believes the Irish border backstop should be interpreted but Verhofstadt is not impressed.







OUT: 11:48:48

11:48:20


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] We won’t call it a unilateral declaration, we call it from now on the shit declaration. “You mean the shit declaration.” Are you filming? 


MAN OOV:
[SUBTITLES] What are you saying? 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] You have to tell me when you’re recording sound, Lode. 


11:48:42

INT. european parliament building strasbourg, everyone is arriving for a meeting



11:48:45


COMM:

Everyone is tired.


11:48:48


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Phhh, his camera again. I’m tired of your camera, to tell you the truth. Where is the meeting?


11:49:00


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] What? Oh the Protocol Room, OK. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] And you can get out. It’s incredible you don’t know, dammit. Where is it now, dammit? 


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] It’s this way, down there. “We won’t be late.” No, we are late. 


11:49:21

the press is waiting in the hallway for everyone to arrive



11:49:23


mclaughlin looks at his phone, everyone leaving after the meeting

COMM:

While Verhofstadt is meeting May, Guillaume receives her unilateral declaration on his mobile. May hopes that it will help her when, tomorrow, she resubmits her deal with the EU to the UK Parliament for a second vote, two months after it was heavily rejected. But Guillaume struggles to understand what May’s text actually means.


11:49:50


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] I’ve read it twice, and I still don’t understand it, so they’ve done a fantastic job. It’s not understandable. It basically says: When it ceases to be temporary, i.e. when it becomes permanent, so if you used and it becomes permanent, because it’s no longer temporary, [Yes] then the UK, and nobody wants it to be permanent, because it’s supposed to be temporary, then the situation changes and then therefore in those circumstances, things change. That’s how I understand it.


11:50:19


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] But where is this in the email?


11:50:22


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] It’s a text message. 


11:50:29




11:50:31

int. office - everyone is gathered to watch the next UK parliament vote

CAPTION: days to exit: 17, 12 march 2019

COMM:

The second vote in the UK Parliament takes place the next day at dinner time but Verhofstadt is hungry and wants to go to his restaurant.


11:50:37


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] Oh, here we go. Look, here she is. Is that May?


11:50:40


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] I don’t know, I can’t see. 


11:50:42


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] Can we go? Fast forwards.


11:50:44


everyone begins to leave

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Can we go? And then we can see it… Hey, you with your thing there. Oh, come on. 


11:50:54


EDEL CROSSE:

Ok well... 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] We’ll do it in the car, that’s the real thing. We walk off and he screams: “Oh no, don’t go.”


11:51:07

ext. street - everyone is getting into a car to leave

[CROSS SPEAKING]


11:51:11


MAN VO:
[SUBTITLES] Order, order. 


EDEL CROSSE:

[SUBTITLES] Here we go, here we go.


11:51:15


GUILLAUME MCLAUGHLIN:

[SUBTITLES] Here we go.


11:51:18

THEY WATCH VOTE ON PHONE SCREEN

UNKNOWN [ARCHIVE]:

[SUBTITLES] The Ayes to the right, 242. The Noes to the left, 391.


IN: 11:51:24

11:51:26

ext. european parliament building, brussels

everyone is arriving for a meeting



11:51:28

11:51:33


CAPTION: days to exit: 16, 13 march 2019

COMM:

Theresa May’s cliff edge strategy, to scare the UK Parliament with a no deal just a fortnight before the departure date did not work.


11:51:41


int. meeting room, meeting in progress

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] We have seen in the meetings with her chief of staff, from day one, he said: “No, no, no, we’re going to change our strategy. We’re going to deliver in the second vote because we going to buy some Labour votes, we’re going to buy some hard Brexiteers.” He outlined, I think more than a month ago now, in detail, what the strategy was to build up a majority. And if you make the analysis, everything failed. 





OUT: 11:52:01

11:52:11


[CONT] [SUBTITLES] So the question is now, will they change course and do what is, in fact, not natural for them? That’s to look at cross-party, really in the interest of the Queen, the Crown and the country. Do like we are doing. Working together. Defending your interests, like we are defending our interests, so that we can find a way out of this.


11:52:33


MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] I think that there we’re at heart of our political responsibility. That isn’t always the case in the work we do. It’s our honour, if I may put it like that. That’s why we have to be respectful towards the British people. We should think of the people in the United Kingdom and their feelings about their own country. 


11:52:56


11:52:57

aerial view of protest in london

CAPTION: days to exit: 6, 23 march 2019



11:53:00


the team are watching the coverage of the protest on the tv

aerial view of london protests

COMM:

One week later an estimated million people marched through London to ask for a second referendum on Brexit, six million people sign a petition for the UK to remain in the European Union but for some in the Brexit steering group the remainers are as big a problem as the hard brexiteers.


11:53:23


int. office, meeting in progress

ELMAR BROK:

[SUBTITLES] The most problematic group in the House of Commons are the Remainers. And this has to be made clear, that the Remainers are a problem. We have to say: “Please, Remainers, come up with a compromise too.” Indirectly we support them, because our sympathy is with them. But we also have to explain to them that internally it’s time to move. To compromise. There is always a majority, we have said before, made up of the Hard Brexit people and the Remainers. And if that negative coalition is not broken, forget everything.


11:53:56

gvs. european parliament, brussels



11:54:04


theresa may arriving in brussels

int. meeting room, michael barnier is on the phone 

COMM:

The divisions over Brexit paralyse the UK Parliament so eight days before the UK departure date Theresa May is forced to come to Brussels to ask the European Council of heads of state and governments for a delay of the British departure. May gets only a very short delay of a couple of weeks instead of the three months she asked for.


11:54:30

CAPTION: days to exit: 3, 26 march 2019



11:54:33


the meeting is in progress

int. office – verhofstadt is looking at his phone

MICHEL BARNIER:

[SUBTITLES] I told the European Council that a long extension is not for free. It comes at a price, as does a no deal, of course. Because extending the negotiation is extending the uncertainty. And investments aren’t made. A long extension also perhaps entails the risk, that if we aren’t firm the British will take advantage of this and say we could start discussions regarding the future relationship. During this time. And there we are back where we were two years ago, with this bargaining that we refused, that you refused, thanks to sequencing, and we find ourselves in a discussion where nothing has been closed regarding the financial settlement, the citizens, Ireland, everything is open and we would start a discussion on the future relationship with this bargaining that we have avoided. 


11:55:33


MICHEL BARNIER:

[CONT] [SUBTITLES] What I felt at the European Council’s table all Thursday afternoon and at Thursday’s dinner is that there is more than weariness. There is more than weariness. There is a very serious crisis in the UK, which by the way, in my view, isn’t a crisis linked to the text of Brexit, and even less to the Irish backstop, it’s a much deeper crisis, an existential one. The UK now has to shoulder its responsibilities. 



GVS OF OFFICE. 


IN: 11:56:06

11:56:10


11:56:13



CAPTION: days to exit: 0, 29 march 2019

view out of the office window

COMM:

On the scheduled UK departure date, even the energetic Guy Verhofstadt has had enough. This afternoon Theresa May will have a third try at getting her deal through parliament but the Brexit coordinator doesn’t even stay to watch anymore.


11:56:32

verhofstadt picks up his coat and bag

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] Bye.


MAN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] Bye, are you coming back? 


11:56:35


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] No. 


11:56:36


UNKNOWN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] What? 


11:56:36


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] They’ll keep me informed. I’ve got my phone. And if it’s no, they’ll try again on Monday, eh? 


11:56:44


UNKNOWN OOV:

[SUBTITLES] What do you think they will do? 


11:56:47


verhofstadt leaves

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] There’s no way of knowing, anymore. 


11:56:57

the press are waiting to speak to theresa may



11:57:00





int. office - everyone arriving for a meeting

COMM:

Theresa May also loses her third vote; she comes back to Brussels and is given a longer delay. But according to EU President Tusk that might not even be the last one. Meanwhile, Guy Verhofstadt keeps having to receive the Brexit steering group in his office.


11:57:31

end credits

A FILM BY

Lode Desmet


EDITOR & COLOURIST

Michel Ronsmans


MUSIC

Roel De Ruijter


MIXER

Frank Duchaine


ARCHIVE

AP Archive

EC Audio Visual Services

Getty images / BBC motion gallery

Getty Images / ITN News

UK Parliamentary Recording Unit


PRODUCTION EXECUTIVES

Nicholas Franklin

Dominic Bolton





















11:57:48


PRODUCER

Hans Everaert

OUT: 11:57:48

11:57:50


EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Fiona Stourton


11:57:52

GUY AND BREXIT STEERING GROUP

HE RAISES A GLASS OF WINE. 

GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] This is the Brexit Steering Group. Together for two years! Yeah! And the transition period too… Another three years!


ELMAR BROK:

[SUBTITLES] At least. 


GUY VERHOFSTADT:

[SUBTITLES] At least!


11:58:10

end board

Films of Record                                      Menuetto 

Part of Zinc Media Group                       Film


For BBC, ZDF / ARTE and VTM

In association with RTBF, SVT, NRK, DR and VPRO


Made with the support of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund and Belgium Tax Shelter (via CKP/Belfius)


© Films of Record / Menuetto MMXIX





11:58:18

end of programme




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