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Sir Keir Starmer is heading to Germany to hold talks on a new bilateral treaty with the country as he hopes to “move beyond Brexit to rebuild relationships” with the EU.
The prime minister will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday to discuss the deal, which will aim to “boost business and trade, deepen defence and security cooperation, and increase joint action on illegal migration”.
Downing Street expects negotiations for the treaty – which it described as “a key pillar of the UK’s wider reset with Europe” – to continue for six months, with both sides hoping it can be signed in early 2025.
Speaking ahead of the trip, Sir Keir the UK “must turn a corner on Brexit and fix the broken relationships left behind by the previous government”.
Specific areas expected to be addressed in the new treaty with Germany include market access between the countries, science and technology collaboration, clean energy and energy security, trade across the North Sea and so-called supply chain “resilience”.
The two leaders will also discuss further intelligence sharing in an effort to tackle the people smuggling gangs responsible for much of the illegal migration in Europe.
As well as meeting Mr Scholz and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Sir Keir will also hold talks with the chief executives of both technology firm Siemens and defence company Rheinmetall.
It will be the fifth time Sir Keir Starmer has met Olaf Scholz since he became prime minister. Pic: PA
He will then travel to Paris to attend the Paralympics opening ceremony on…
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