Prime Minister Keir Starmer has initiated efforts to secure a new bilateral treaty with Germany during discussions with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. The meeting, which took place on Wednesday, is part of Starmer’s broader strategy to reset Britain’s relationship with the European Union following Brexit.
The two leaders aim to finalise the treaty by early 2024, focusing on strengthening defence and economic ties between the two nations. However, their respective priorities appeared to differ slightly during the joint press conference. Scholz emphasised that defence would be at the heart of the discussions, while Starmer highlighted the potential for the deal to provide “new impetus for our trade relations” and stimulate economic growth.
A joint declaration released by the UK and Germany outlined additional objectives, such as enhanced foreign policy cooperation, increased people-to-people contacts, and coordinated action on irregular migration. Last month, the two countries set out their defence priorities, including joint procurement, interoperability, and collaboration on supporting Ukraine and addressing emerging threats. London has indicated that a more comprehensive agreement based on this framework will be concluded in the autumn, forming a key pillar of the wider UK-German treaty.
Berlin has also expressed interest in intensifying dialogue with London regarding measures to increase mobility between the two countries, particularly for younger individuals. Scholz noted that contact between British and German societies has declined significantly following Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, expressing a desire to rectify this situation. Starmer, while not explicitly ruling out a youth mobility scheme, stated that Britain does not currently have plans for such an arrangement. He clarified that there would be no return to free movement of people with the EU, which is distinct from time-limited exchanges, but added that the UK seeks to enhance “exchanges” with the bloc.
Starmer, who has been in office for just two months, has already met with Scholz five times and Macron four times, underscoring his commitment to strengthening ties with European allies. The UK prime minister is set to travel to Paris on Wednesday evening to attend the Paralympics opening ceremony before meeting with President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on Thursday.
As part of his European tour, Starmer aims to foster connections with businesses, hosting an international investment summit in October. Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is the UK’s second-largest trading partner, accounting for 8.5% of all UK trade. During his visits to Berlin and Paris, Starmer is scheduled to meet with executives from various industries, including energy, defence, technology, and pharmaceuticals.
The proposed partnership between London and Berlin has been likened to the 2010 Lancaster House agreement between the UK and France, which sought to deepen defence and security cooperation. While Brussels and London have engaged in intermittent talks regarding closer defence and security ties since the UK’s 2016 Brexit vote, some in the UK prefer to prioritise bilateral relationships with major EU military powers like Germany.
As Starmer continues his efforts to mend the “broken relationships” left behind by the previous government and improve the UK’s access to trade with Europe, the success of his European tour and the proposed UK-German treaty will be closely watched by both businesses and political observers alike.
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