Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host Chancellor Friedrich Merz in London today for a wide-ranging visit aimed at revitalizing UK-Germany relations and signing a landmark bilateral Friendship and Cooperation Treaty—the first of its kind.
The visit is Merz's first to the UK as chancellor, although he has already met Starmer several times, including on a trip to Ukraine. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will accompany Merz on the visit and is expected to meet his British counterpart David Lammy.
Merz's trip comes a week after a state visit to Britain by French President Emmanuel Macron, the first by an EU head of state since the UK left the bloc five years ago.
“The Treaty we will sign today, the first of its kind, will bring the UK and Germany closer than ever. It not only marks the progress we have already made and the history we share. It is the foundation on which we go further to tackle shared problems and invest in shared strengths," - stated Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in the statement.
The new Treaty will detail closer collaboration on issues ranging from migration and security to business, commercial and infrastructure links. The treaty is expected to include provisions aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties, such as simplifying border procedures for school trips to encourage greater youth exchange.
Prime Minister Starmer and Chancellor Merz are also set to commit to enhanced cooperation on tackling irregular migration—a key domestic priority for both leaders.
Germany is expected to make a landmark commitment to criminalize the facilitation of illegal migration to the UK, with the legislative change set to be adopted by the end of the year.
The change will equip law enforcement with the tools needed to investigate and take action against warehouses and storage facilities used by migrant smugglers to conceal dangerous small boats intended for illegal crossings to the UK. It will strengthen efforts to prosecute those involved in smuggling operations and support the dismantling of the criminal networks driving these unlawful and unacceptable journeys across Europe.
“Chancellor Merz’s commitment to make necessary changes to German law to disrupt the supply lines of the dangerous vessels which carry illegal migrants across the Channel is hugely welcome. As the closest of allies, we will continue to work closely together to deliver on the priorities that Brits and Germans share,” - Prime Minister Starmer added.
Deepening security and defence cooperation is also high on the agenda, with the leaders set to discuss their strong shared support for Ukraine.
Also, the leaders will unveil a new agreement to boost UK defence exports such as Boxer armoured vehicles and Typhoon jets, with the two countries set to pursue joint export campaigns for jointly produced equipment. The agreement is likely to lead to billions of pounds additional defence exports in the coming years
The Treaty also includes the establishment of a new UK-Germany Business Forum in order to improve business and investment relationship between the UK and Germany, with trade between the two countries already accounting for 8.5% of all UK trade and supporting almost 500,000 jobs.
In addition, series of commercial investment to be announced today worth more than £200 million.
One of them, German defence tech company, STARK, which has announced a landmark investment in the UK, marking its first production expansion outside of Germany. The move will create STARK’s new 40,000 square feet facility in Swindon.
Other announcements from German companies in the UK today include:
Conversational AI firm Cognigy plans to invest £50 million in the UK, expanding its team from 13 to 150.
AI ESG platform osapiens plans to invest £30 million in the UK, creating 150 high-skilled jobs.
Siemens Energy is creating 200 new jobs as well as 100 new apprentices and graduates starting this autumn.
Venture Capital fund, HV Capital, has the ambition to deploy around £150 million in the UK as part of their next fund generation.
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