Starmer meets with Scholz and business leaders in Berlin. They agree to sign a cooperation agreement to mend ties. Starmer is due to visit France later to meet with Macron.
BERLIN, Aug 28 (Reuters) – British and German leaders agreed in Berlin on Monday to work towards an ambitious treaty covering issues from defence to trade as part of a restructuring of Britain's ties with the European Union.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to EU powers Germany and France is aimed at helping Britain move beyond the previous Conservative government's conflicted relationship with its European allies. Since taking office last month, Starmer has made improving ties central to his efforts to boost Britain's economic growth.
He described the new cooperation treaty as a “once in a generation opportunity to deliver results for British and German workers” by expanding trade and deepening cooperation in science, technology, business and culture.
Mr Starmer said growth was the Government's “number one mission”.
“And what we are clear about is that building relationships with partners here in Germany and across Europe is essential to achieving that,” he said.
Speaking at a news conference alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Starmer said the reset would not mean reversing Britain's 2020 departure from the EU under a Conservative government or rejoining the EU's single market or customs union.
“But it means closer ties in many areas, including economy, defence and exchanges,” he said.
Scholz said Germany wanted to accept the outstretched hand.
“The UK has always been a vital part of resolving the big issues that affect the whole of Europe,” he said. “And that remains true after we leave the EU.”
1/4 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer shake hands during a press conference in Berlin, Germany, 28 August 2024. REUTERS/Lisa Johansen
(1/4)German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer shake hands during a news conference in Berlin, Germany, August 28, 2024. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen To purchase license rights, open in a new tab Britain and Germany said in a joint statement that they hoped to sign a cooperation treaty “by early next year” in government talks. The defense ministers said they were also working on a new defense pact to follow the signing of a Joint Defence Declaration in July.
But Stephen Hunsaker, a trade researcher at the British think tank Changing Europe, said any efforts to adequately improve trade would risk violating EU rules and could only be peripheral.
The Trump factor
Britain and Germany, NATO allies and the biggest defense spenders in Western Europe, are exploring ways to deepen defense cooperation ahead of former U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House in January and the possibility of a reduction in U.S. military aid to Ukraine. The Republican presidential candidate has warned that if elected, he would fundamentally rethink “NATO's purpose and NATO's mission.” He has also not committed to more aid for Ukraine and said he would not defend any ally that does not increase its defense budget. Trump is in a close race with Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election. Concerns have been growing that the U.S. may curtail aid to Ukraine since Trump chose J.D. Vance as his running mate. Vance stressed that he opposes the U.S. writing a “blank check” to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Officials said British-German defense cooperation could be similar to the Lancaster House Agreement, agreed by Britain and France in 2010, which committed to creating a joint force and sharing equipment and nuclear and missile research centers.
Starmer also said the two countries would agree to deepen cooperation on common social challenges such as human trafficking and to develop a joint action plan to tackle illegal immigration.
Starmer will travel to Paris for the Paralympics opening ceremony on Wednesday evening and is due to meet bosses from Thales, Eutelsat, Mistral AI and Sanofi on Thursday, as well as with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Sign up here.
Reporting by Andrew MacAskill, Sarah Marsh, Miranda Murray and Andreas Linke in Berlin; additional reporting by Kate Holton in London; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Bernadette Baum
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Opens in new tab
Purchasing License Rights
