A New Era in UK-Germany Relations: Starmer and Scholz Pledge Ambitious Treaty

[Social Media]

 

Following a brief delay, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stood together at their respective lecterns, setting the stage for a pivotal moment in UK-Germany relations. Scholz began by extending his congratulations to Starmer on becoming Prime Minister and emphasized the strong bond between the two nations. He described the UK and Germany as "good friends" and "trusted allies," underscoring a commitment to strengthening this relationship.

 

The two leaders discussed plans for a new and unprecedented treaty that would encompass a wide range of bilateral relations—something that, according to Scholz, has never been formalized between the two countries before. Scholz elaborated on the shared vision for deeper cooperation through government-to-government consultations, a process that both countries have already been closely coordinating. He highlighted the importance of enhancing the European pillar within NATO and emphasized the need for closer cooperation on security issues, a partnership that is increasingly vital in the current geopolitical landscape. In a firm stance of solidarity, Scholz asserted, "We stand firmly by Ukraine's side."

 

Scholz reaffirmed the joint stance of the UK and Germany on supporting Ukraine amid ongoing conflict. He announced a significant €4 billion draft budget in bilateral aid, supplementing the G7's $50 billion loan aimed at providing reliable financial support to Ukraine. Scholz noted that the two nations had "dealt with a situation in Ukraine today," reiterating that both the UK and Germany stand "firmly by their side." He then transitioned to a broader discussion on diplomatic relations between the UK and Germany, expressing his satisfaction with Starmer's desire for a reset in relations between the two countries.

 

The German Chancellor highlighted that the UK has always been an "indispensable partner," a status that remains unchanged despite Brexit. Scholz remarked that social contact between the two countries had diminished following Brexit and the Covid pandemic, expressing a desire to reverse this trend and rebuild stronger connections.

 

When it was Starmer's turn to speak, he began by extending his condolences for the tragic stabbing incident in Solingen, Germany, where three people lost their lives. Starmer then outlined what he described as a "new UK-Germany treaty," which he called a "once-in-a-generation chance to deliver for working people." He emphasized that the treaty reflects the depth and potential of the relationship between the two countries, suggesting that it could serve as a catalyst for growth in various sectors, including science, technology, development, trade, and business. "Growth is the number one mission of my government," Starmer declared.

 

Starmer also spoke about plans for the UK and Germany to deepen cooperation on shared social challenges, such as immigration. He stressed that the UK could not tackle smuggling gangs and illegal migration without the help of its partners. To this end, both countries have agreed to develop a joint action plan to address illegal migration, which would include enhancing intelligence on organized immigration.

 

Addressing global conflicts, Starmer turned his attention to the war in Ukraine, which he said was a significant topic of discussion during his meeting with Scholz. He reiterated the commitment of both the UK and Germany to stand with Ukraine. Starmer also commented on the situation in Gaza, expressing support for Israel's right to defend itself, the release of hostages, and the pursuit of a ceasefire in the region. 

 

Starmer emphasized that the new treaty between the UK and Germany is part of a broader effort to reset relations, not just between the two nations but with Europe as a whole. He expressed hope that the treaty would be finalized by the end of the year. However, he was "absolutely clear" that the reset with the EU does not mean reversing Brexit or re-entering the single market or Customs Union. Although there are no current plans for a youth mobility scheme, he mentioned that there are plans for "a closer relationship."

 

A member of the German media inquired about how Starmer plans to bridge the capability gap in Ukraine, a question referring to the shortfalls in Ukraine's ability to combat Russian aggression, particularly regarding the supply of weapons, equipment, and ammunition. Starmer responded by stating that the UK, along with key allies, already provides substantial support and weaponry to Ukraine. He added that there had been no change in the UK's position on capability, and that its contribution remains consistent with levels before the election.

 

When asked if US objections were preventing Ukraine from using longer-range missiles to strike targets in Russia, and what discussions he had with Scholz regarding lifting restrictions on the use of weapons in Russia, Starmer maintained that he would not delve into tactical issues related to weapon use. He clarified that no new decisions had been taken by his government on the matter. Scholz echoed this sentiment, affirming that Germany would continue its support for Ukraine and stating that his government had not made any new decisions regarding the supply of weapons.

 

Addressing the recent tragic attack in Solingen, Chancellor Scholz stated that he "can't go back to daily business" after such a fatal event. He noted that efforts to contain irregular migration into Germany were ongoing and revealed that the perpetrator of the knife attack was supposed to have been deported to Bulgaria. He acknowledged that investigations were continuing to determine why this deportation did not occur. Scholz also pointed out that immigration is essential to Germany's economy and society, describing the successful integration of 20 million people into the country as a "success story."

 

Starmer agreed that irregular migration is a pressing concern and emphasized his priority to "take down the gangs running the vile trade putting people in dangerous situations." He reiterated the importance of the UK "taking back control" of its borders. To this end, he announced that a joint action plan focusing on data intelligence sharing had been agreed upon during the day's meeting.

 

The dialogue between Starmer and Scholz marks a significant step towards reshaping UK-Germany relations in the post-Brexit era. With the prospect of a new and comprehensive treaty on the horizon, both leaders have shown a willingness to cooperate on a range of issues—from global security to immigration—while reaffirming their commitment to a united Europe. As the year progresses, the world will watch closely to see if this ambitious reset of relations between the UK and Germany comes to fruition, potentially setting a new standard for collaboration in an evolving geopolitical landscape.

 

Credit: BBC 2024-08-29

 

 

 

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[JonnyF]

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

However, he was "absolutely clear" that the reset with the EU does not mean reversing Brexit or re-entering the single market or Customs Union.

 

Make no mistake. That's exactly what it means.

 

This is just the first step. Test the waters so to speak. Starmer was one of the anti-democrats pushing for a second vote to overturn the first one. He cannot be trusted on this or anything else.

[BritManToo]

So broke Britain Starmer wants to give 54 billion to the Ukraine.

When just last week he didn't have enough money for pensioners fuel.

[Nick Carter icp]

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

So broke Britain Starmer wants to give 54 billion to the Ukraine.

When just last week he didn't have enough money for pensioners fuel.

 

   Read it again :

 

Scholz reaffirmed the joint stance of the UK and Germany on supporting Ukraine amid ongoing conflict. He announced a significant €4 billion draft budget in bilateral aid, supplementing the G7's $50 billion loan aimed at providing reliable financial support to Ukraine.

 

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

So broke Britain Starmer wants to give 54 billion to the Ukraine.

When just last week he didn't have enough money for pensioners fuel.

 

But the pensioners are British. Mainly white. Possibly even working class and god forbid, Conservative. 

 

Meaning Starmer and Labour as a whole doesn't give a monkeys about them. 

[johng]

Wonder how the Germans feel about Ukraine blowing up the gas pipeline leading to hugh energy price increases for them and across Europe....oops!

[Mike Teavee]

14 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

So broke Britain Starmer wants to give 54 billion to the Ukraine.

When just last week he didn't have enough money for pensioners fuel.

But they had enough money for the winter allowance for pensioners in EU https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-13788141/British-pensioners-living-EU-winter-fuel-allowance-thanks-Brexit-catch.html

 

As an aside, Can Germany make treaties with the UK? Doesn’t it need to be an EU wide Treaty or is Germany the EU nowadays?

[JonnyF]

6 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

Can Germany make treaties with the UK?

 

He who pays the piper calls the tune.

 

Germany can do what it likes because it's propping up all the failing EU states. Not sure for how long though, given it's impending economic demise at the hands of Chinese manufacturing. 

 

https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/08/27/german-economy-shrinks-as-consumers-shy-away-from-spending

[Chomper Higgot]

41 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Make no mistake. That's exactly what it means.

 

This is just the first step. Test the waters so to speak. Starmer was one of the anti-democrats pushing for a second vote to overturn the first one. He cannot be trusted on this or anything else.

I almost agree with you Jonny.

 

Though this is not the first step, that already taken by Sunak, with the Windsor framework. 
 

As I said at the time, to the consternation of some, BREXIT is being slowly but surely wound back.

 

I’ve also said, and will repeat it her, the EU will not engage with the UK on meaningful rejoin talks until the Tories have returned to some semblance of rationality.
Grim as it is, this inevitably pivots on a few more ‘Boomers’ shaking of their mortal coil,  it it is an inevitability that the Tories will return to center ground politics where EU membership resides.

 

Meanwhile, Labour will continue to engage in all the necessary moves that are not ‘joining the EU’ but are necessary to ‘rejoin the EU’.

 

It’s good to see rational sense in charge again.

 

 

 

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

27 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

So broke Britain Starmer wants to give 54 billion to the Ukraine.

When just last week he didn't have enough money for pensioners fuel.

You’ve been at the Chamberlin again.

 

There’s enough money, it just needs collecting from ‘those with the broadest shoulders’:

Keep an eye out on the budget:

 

Non Dom tax avoidance.

Corporate/Private offshoring tax avoidance.

Capital Gains tax.

Inheritance tax.

 

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

26 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

But the pensioners are British. Mainly white. Possibly even working class and god forbid, Conservative. 

 

Meaning Starmer and Labour as a whole doesn't give a monkeys about them. 

Why did you wedge ethnicity into this Jonny?!

 

That’s a rhetorical question.

[newbee2022]

43 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Make no mistake. That's exactly what it means.

 

This is just the first step. Test the waters so to speak. Starmer was one of the anti-democrats pushing for a second vote to overturn the first one. He cannot be trusted on this or anything else.

Well done, Starmer. Even you don't name it, but sure the Brexit is an idiotic incident in British history. Now make it better. Knot ties, look for chances to get UK back into the market. Alone you can't control your borders. You are in historical need of help from EU.👍

[JonnyF]

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I almost agree with you Jonny.

 

Though this is not the first step, that already taken by Sunak, with the Windsor framework. 
 

As I said at the time, to the consternation of some, BREXIT is being slowly but surely wound back.

 

I’ve also said, and will repeat it her, the EU will not engage with the UK on meaningful rejoin talks until the Tories have returned to some semblance of rationality.
Grim as it is, this inevitably pivots on a few more ‘Boomers’ shaking of their mortal coil,  it it is an inevitability that the Tories will return to center ground politics where EU membership resides.

 

Meanwhile, Labour will continue to engage in all the necessary moves that are not ‘joining the EU’ but are necessary to ‘rejoin the EU’.

 

It’s good to see rational sense in charge again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time is not on the EU's side when it comes to luring the UK back into it's web. 

 

As the frankly ridiculous Project Fear continues to be debunked and the EU economy stagnates, handing over billions every year to rejoin a failing club will appear less attractive with each passing year, especially with the UK outperforming the EuroZone (image below from the link in my post above this one). 

 

I'm not surprised the Germans are so desperate to have us back. 

 

[Nick Carter icp]

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

Well done, Starmer. Even you don't name it, but sure the Brexit is an idiotic incident in British history. Now make it better. Knot ties, look for chances to get UK back into the market. Alone you can't control your borders. You are in historical need of help from EU.👍

 

   Had the E.U helped control our borders when we were a member, we wouldn't have left the E.U 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Time is not on the EU's side when it comes to luring the UK back into it's web. 

 

As the frankly ridiculous Project Fear continues to be debunked and the EU economy stagnates, handing over billions every year to rejoin a failing club will appear less attractive with each passing year, especially with the UK outperforming the EuroZone (image below from the link in my post above this one). 

 

I'm not surprised the Germans are so desperate to have us back. 

 

Hope springs eternal.

 

Link?

[brewsterbudgen]

51 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Make no mistake. That's exactly what it means.

 

This is just the first step. Test the waters so to speak. Starmer was one of the anti-democrats pushing for a second vote to overturn the first one. He cannot be trusted on this or anything else.

 

He won the election and most people realise what a catastrophic error Brexit was.  I can understand why he's moving slowly, but I can see us rejoining he Customs Union and Single Market by the end of the term.  Hopefully it will be a key part of Labour's election manifesto.

[JonnyF]

7 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Why did you wedge ethnicity into this Jonny?!

 

That’s a rhetorical question.

 

Ethinicity is always a factor in 2 Tier Keir's Britain.

 

Don't shoot the messenger. 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Had the E.U helped control our borders when we were a member, we wouldn't have left the E.U 

I suggest looking at a graph, small boat arrivals per year.

 

Refer Fig 1 in link attached:

 

 

https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/people-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats/

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, JonnyF said:

 

Ethinicity is always a factor in 2 Tier Keir's Britain.

 

Don't shoot the messenger. 

Ethnicity is always an issue in the far right dogwhistle ‘Two Tier’.

 

Seething racist laced auto grievance stroking.

 

 

[JonnyF]

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Keep an eye out on the budget:

 

Non Dom tax avoidance.

Corporate/Private offshoring tax avoidance.

Capital Gains tax.

Inheritance tax.

 

Ah yes, Labour's tried and trusted obsession of stealing money from those who have worked hard to become successful and handing it over to the workshy and immigrants. 

[JonnyF]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

Ethnicity is always an issue in the far right dogwhistle ‘Two Tier’.

 

Seething racist laced auto grievance stroking.

 

 

 

Nothing screams racism like 2 Tier Keir's Britain. 

 

Of course, your white guilt prevents you from seeing racism in more than one direction, hence your support of racist policies like "positive" discrimination. 

[JonnyF]

7 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Hope springs eternal.

 

Link?

 

I already told you where the link was. I guess requesting one is Pavlovian at this point.

 

Here is it again for those with a short memory.

 

https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/08/27/german-economy-shrinks-as-consumers-shy-away-from-spending

 

[Nick Carter icp]

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I suggest looking at a graph, small boat arrivals per year.

 

Refer Fig 1 in link attached:

 

 

https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/people-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats/

 

   I was referring to legal immigration, rather than the boat people 

[JonnyF]

7 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 

He won the election and most people realise what a catastrophic error Brexit was.  I can understand why he's moving slowly, but I can see us rejoining he Customs Union and Single Market by the end of the term.  Hopefully it will be a key part of Labour's election manifesto.

 

How is it an error when we are outperforming the Eurozone so soon after leaving?

[Chomper Higgot]

9 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Ah yes, Labour's tried and trusted obsession of stealing money from those who have worked hard to become successful and handing it over to the workshy and immigrants. 

 

Which part of Capital Gains did the recipient work for?

Which part of inheritance did the recipient work for?

 

I see you got on to immigrants again.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   I was referring to legal immigration, rather than the boat people 

Why would the EU do anything to control legal immigration to the UK?

[JonnyF]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

 

Which part of Capital Gains did the recipient work for?

 

The capital that they worked to buy. For example, working to pay the mortgage off on a house. 

 

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

Which part of inheritance did the recipient work for?

 

The parents worked for that. Then they have to pay Labour when they wish to leave it to their children. Then Labour will spaff it up the wall on some vanity project. 

 

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

 

I see you got o to immigrants again.

 

Yes, it's one of the hot topics in British politics right now if you hadn't noticed. Also linked to Britains exit from the EU. 

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Why would the EU do anything to control legal immigration to the UK?

 

   If the E.U hadn't insisted that the UK allow all Europeans  the right to live in the U.K unconditionally, then we probably wouldn't have left 

[brewsterbudgen]

11 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

How is it an error when we are outperforming the Eurozone so soon after leaving?

You're taking one measure.  There have been and still are economic challenges, trade disruptions, and political divisions, particularly in regard to the UK as a whole (Scotland/Wales/NI) and the regulatory divergence from the EU has also led to complications, particularly in industries that rely on seamless EU-UK integration.  

A whole generation now has less freedom of movement which, in my opinion, is a crime against youth.  However, it does seem that the government are making some, slow, progress in restoring some freedom of movement for the under-30s.

[Chomper Higgot]

10 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   If the E.U hadn't insisted that the UK allow all Europeans  the right to live in the U.K unconditionally, then we probably wouldn't have left 

That was never anything the EU insisted on.