UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is in Germany today to seek a new agreement that could include greater trade access with the EU country, the UK’s second largest trading partner.
A ‘reset’
Starmer’s Labour government is seeking a “reset” in the UK’s relationship with the rest of Europe, the BBC reports, starting with a new bilateral treaty with Germany. The proposed treaty will cover sectors from defence to technology and energy security, and will grant greater market access for the countries’ firms.
Starmer’s visit today included a meeting with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in which he offered a formal expression of condolence following the recent attack in Solingen, before a further meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Starmer will also meet executives from German technology giant Siemens and defence firm Rheinmetall.
Ahead of the visit, the UK government stated that Starmer’s trip is a step towards “ensuring the UK moves beyond Brexit to rebuild relationships with key partners”. The proposed treaty, it added, “is expected to boost business and trade”.
Comparing it to the previous Lancaster House Treaties signed with France in 2010, the government said a new agreement with Germany would bring closer parity between members of the informal ‘E3’ grouping of the UK, France and Germany. It said:
“A treaty of such magnitude has never been agreed between the UK and Germany. Alongside the longstanding Lancaster House Treaties that underpin the UK’s relationship with France, this new agreement will bring all E3 members in line as our governments work in lockstep on key geo-political issues, such as the conflict in the Middle East and war in Ukraine.”
‘More or less on the same page’
A foreign affairs spokesperson for Scholz’s Social Democratic Party told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Starmer and Scholz are “more or less on the same page” with regards to the UK-EU relationship. He added:
“There is a constant push by the German government to bring the UK closer to Europe and to facilitate cooperation between Great Britain and the EU in as many fields as possible, ranging from trade to student mobility rights to defence.”
He noted, however, that a youth mobility scheme – already rejected by Starmer – is “a major feature of our wish list” from an EU perspective, though a bilateral deal could be on the table. The Telegraph reports that the UK is aiming to achieve a deal within the next six months.
Starmer will follow his German visit with one to France, where he will meet with French president Emmanuel Macron and attend the Paralympics opening ceremony.
‘Fix broken relationships’
Ahead of the visit, Starmer said:
“We must turn a corner on Brexit and fix the broken relationships left behind by the previous government. That work started at the European Political Community meeting last month, and I am determined to continue it, which is why I am visiting Germany and France this week.
“Strengthening our relationship with these countries is crucial, not only in tackling the global problem of illegal migration but also in boosting economic growth across the continent and crucially in the UK – one of the key missions of my government.”