A program about well-being, woe and the further way of the European Union after the departure of the United Kingdom should be made, actually, sometimes with 28 participants from all member states. Sorry, 27. The British are out soon. By contrast, Maybrit Illner focused on political science and historical expertise, with an English Brit, a German-British European and a European Urbayern.

Controversy of the evening : None. It is like it is. Well, everyone agreed that they should make the best of it.

Applause of the evening : For political scientist Linn Selle and her objection: "I think it's a shame that only governments are talking" when it comes to drifting away from Europe. It is important to keep in mind "the populations" to whom belonging to Europe has always meant belonging to democratic conditions.

Brussels evening : Katarina Barley, Federal Minister of Justice with British and German passports, is SPD's top candidate for the European elections next year. It would have of course "voted against the exit". That Italy intends to violate the Stability Pact is something other countries have done (including Germany), but: "What we will never tolerate is that countries abandon the rule of law".

Rush of the evening : Came from Andreas Rödder, historian: "Just because the British are leaving the European Union, the British islands do not disappear in the depths of the Atlantic".

Agreement of the evening : Edmund Stoiber (CSU), the historian Rödder and the political scientist Selle point out in unison that there is, for example, in Italy, youth unemployment of more than 40 percent - and other grievances, not only by populist forces of the European austerity policy.

Review of the evening : Again the historian, pointing to the different perspectives on Brussels. For France always been "an insurance against Germany", for Germany "a rehabilitation program", for the East Europeans a promise of democracy and so on. Here "flexibility" is needed and no longer the empty speech "of the community of values". Instead, "empathic realism".

Appeal of the evening : Also Rödder, who would have to start in the reason immediately as a top candidate of any very pragmatic party in the European elections. Brexit challenges "the constructiveness and imagination and productivity" of the EU to make the gathering "more flexible" in the future. Not as an ever closer union, but as an association of diversity.

Counter-argument of the evening : Linn Selle does not want a pragmatic Europe of the lowest common denominator: "We have to think: Where do we want to go?"

Analogy of the evening : Anne McElvoy, journalist of the "Economist", to the question why Theresa May think so long: "Well ... who wants the job In Germany everyone wants the job of the Chancellor, at the time".

Star of the evening : Edmund Stoiber. He not only sprinkled insights such as saying that the exit was "as if ten or twelve other countries were leaving," because it is just so great, this Britain. He also admitted that he had twice been wrong twice in Brexit and Trump: "The two decisions that were made in a row were crazy". And he brings champagne clarity into Italian conditions, where currently the fascistoid Lega Nord coalition with five-star movement: "They have a government, if I may say so, from AfD and Pirate Party."

Dialogue of the evening : Rödder: "What is decided in the British Parliament or not, nobody knows, not even ..." Stoiber from the side: "God!" Rödder mercilessly: "No, he does not!"

Tenor of the evening : And? Is Brexit the end of the European Union? Yes. No. Perhaps. And if so, our tiny Asian promontory will not go down.

Graphic for the Brexit Deal

The state of the negotiationsHow's Brexit Poker