AFP
What does a “reset” mean? That is the question that surrounds the Chancellor's visit to Berlin today.
No one will deny that mood music is good.
Sir Keir Starmer, the centre-left leader who came to power after a long period of Conservative rule, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz feel comfortable in each other's company.
This was Sir Keir's fifth meeting in less than two months since becoming prime minister, coincidentally with England's football team reaching the European Championship final.
But this was their first formal meeting, and the prime minister used the word “reset” which has underlined almost all of his interactions with European leaders since taking office.
But perhaps for the first time, the Prime Minister has begun the work of laying out what the reset would look like.
Both governments committed themselves to strengthening Anglo-German relations through the treaty.
The modest Scholz was clearly enthusiastic, saying Germany intended to “accept the hand that is being offered to us”.
Two things are particularly striking about the leaders' professed ambitions for this treaty: First, how quickly they intend to negotiate it: within six months.
Another thing is what extent is intended?
At a press conference with Mr Scholz this morning, the chancellor indicated the plan would cover trade, defence, illegal immigration, science, technology, development, people and culture.
The official announcement from Downing Street also mentioned cooperation on energy, supply chains, biodiversity and the environment.
That's quite a lot.
For some, this will raise the question of whether the Treaty's intended breadth of scope is an indication of its importance, or whether it is merely a symbolic note of the ways in which countries already cooperate.
There was another catchy phrase in Downing Street's announcement of the treaty: the “ambitious agreement” was designed to deepen “market access” in both directions.
EPA
As is all too well known to British politicians across the board after tumultuous years of Brexit negotiations, there are clear and strict limits on the access non-EU countries can have to the markets of certain EU member states.
Government sources say the ambition is actually aimed at addressing certain frictions related to certification and tendering, and facilitating market access for British companies trading in Germany and vice versa.
The political aspects of all this could prove difficult for Sir Keir.
A former shadow Brexit secretary who rose to prominence within the Labour Party by calling for a second referendum on whether to leave the EU, he helped win last month's general election in part by assuring Conservative voters in 2019 that he would not try to reverse Britain's departure from the EU.
The Prime Minister reiterated that position today, insisting that the basic framework for a post-Brexit UK outside the single market and customs union is off the table.
This may disappoint other members of Sir Keir's electoral coalition, who were hoping for a change of government despite his tough stance before the election.
Youth Mobility
It means that free movement of people will not return, but there was an interesting discussion today about a possible youth mobility plan, which would give under-30s more rights to travel, live and work between the UK and Europe.
While Scholz generally hinted that he would like to see more staff exchanges between Britain and Germany, the chancellor was adamant that there were “no plans” to sign up to any such scheme.
Some skeptics will point out that this falls short of a categorical assertion that youth mobility plans will never materialize.
Asked again after the press conference to rule out a treaty being agreed, Sir Keir said the treaty with Germany had “nothing to do with youth mobility or anything like that”.
So what does a reset mean? It certainly means a tangible warmth between the Chancellor and the German Chancellor.
After that, we may have to wait six months to see what exactly is in the treaty.
