Starmer and Merz sign biggest UK-German treaty since WW2 with deals on migration, trade and security
England and Germany have agreed to cooperate in the largest treaty between the two countries since the end of World War II.
The meeting at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London agreed to “work closer” to Sir Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
According to the agreement, Germany will close a gap to allow the police to seize small boats used by immigrants to pass the channel.
As part of the moves designed to cut the bureaucracy after Brexit, German school trips will become visa-free by the end of the year, while British visitors to Germany will be able to use their passport e-doors until the end of August.
Fast trace will start for frequent travelers at the beginning, but will eventually be expanded to all British visitors within the scope of Sir Keir’s wider Brexit ‘reset’ with the EU.
Sir Keir described the document known as the Kensington Treaty as “very special ..
The leader of the worker said that “proof of the proximity of our relationship as it is today” and “a declaration of intention is an expression of our desire to work closer together”. The Treaty also includes a new task force designed to open the path of direct train services between the two countries.
After the signing ceremony, the two leaders then went to Download Street for another meeting.
Merz said that the agreement was “surprised” to find out that the agreement was the first England-German agreement since the Second World War.
“We kept you in the European Union and thought it was enough,” he said.
“But now we find out that this is not enough, so we need to do more.”
In small boats, Germany agreed to smoke to England until the end of 2025.
Although people with smugglers in EU countries are a crime under the German law, human trafficking Since Brexit, immigrants to England have not illegal.
Most asylum seekers passing the channel start from the French coast, but Germany is seen as a transit country for immigrants and is often used as a storage center for boats and transport equipment.
Since January, at least 22,000 people have already traveled and made 2025 a record year for transitions.
In December, Interior Minister Yette Cooper won a German agreement to change the law to Merz’s predecessor Olaf Scholz to help the smuggling of immigrants. However, a change in the government in Berlin meant that it had to be re -negotiated.
Before his visit, Sir Keir said: “Chancellor Merz’s commitment to making necessary changes in German laws to disrupt the supply lines of dangerous ships carrying illegal immigrants along the channel is welcomed.
“As the closest relatives of the Allies, we will continue to work together to meet the priorities shared by the British and Germans.”
The leaders have also committed to producing defense exports such as boxer armored vehicles and typhoon jets and developing the deep sensitive strike missile in the next decade.
A series of commercial investments, which overlap and value more than 200 million £, will be announced and will create more than 600 new jobs.
These include Defense Technology Company Stark, Swindon, a production facility, the first Foreign Germany and the Speech AI company Cognigy’s investment of £ 50 million and expanding the UK team from 13 to 150.
