“Today we are opening a new chapter in our relations.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wanted to be resolutely positive alongside Olaf Scholz. The two social democratic heads of government want to relaunch their bilateral relations after Brexit. An “ambitious” cooperation treaty between the two countries must be signed by the end of the year.
Presented as “the chance of a generation” by Keir Starmer, it must strengthen ties between the two countries in various areas such as trade, defense, technology and the fight against illegal immigration. The agreement in preparation with Germany, the United Kingdom’s second largest trading partner, is “a chance to create jobs here and in the United Kingdom” and to “provide the most precious commodity to our two countries, economic growth”, according to the British leader.
“This does not mean that Brexit is in question”
Beyond Germany, which is the United Kingdom’s second largest trading partner, the new British Prime Minister wants his country to move closer to the European Union. “We want a new start in our relations with the European Union,” said the British Prime Minister. “This does not mean that Brexit is in question or that we are rejoining the single market or the customs union, but we want to establish close ties in many areas with our neighbors.”
Olaf Scholz welcomed this initiative and said he wanted to seize the hand extended by London. “We want to strengthen the European pillar of NATO,” stressed the Chancellor. Defense is at the heart of bilateral cooperation. It should allow Berlin to renew ties with a traditional ally that has long served as a counterweight for Germany to the Franco-German relationship.
In office since July after 14 years of Conservative power, Keir Starmer has pledged to restore a relationship of trust with his European allies and wants in particular to negotiate a new security pact and a better trade agreement with the 27 EU member countries, recalls Agence France-Presse. In July, two weeks after his election, the British Prime Minister, who was hosting a summit of the European political community in England, had promised that the United Kingdom would be “a friend and a partner” for the EU countries.
This article is originally published on .rfi.fr
