The Prime Minister will drive forward UK economic growth in
Berlin and Paris this week, as he puts delivering for the British
people at the top of his international agenda.
will meet German Chancellor
Olaf Scholz to launch negotiations on a new bilateral
treaty, which is expected to boost business and trade, deepen
defence and security cooperation, and increase joint action on
illegal migration.
The Prime Minister is expected to tell Chancellor Scholz that he
is focused on ensuring the UK moves beyond Brexit to rebuild
relationships with key partners and improve the lives of
hardworking people in both countries. He is also expected to meet
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
He will say that driving growth will be key to doing that.
Germany is Europe's largest economy and the UK's second largest
trading partner, accounting for 8.5% of all UK trade.
As part of the trip to Berlin, the Prime Minister is also
expected to meet Dr. Christian Bruch, chief executive of Siemens
Energy. Through its technology, Siemens supports one-sixth of
global energy generation.
The company also employs nearly 100,000 people, including more
than 6,000 in the UK. The stop is part of a string of visits
planned by the Prime Minister to drive up investment in the UK
and create more highly skilled jobs in every corner of the
country.
German companies already support more than 330, 000 jobs in the
UK, in places such as Derby, Manchester, Goole and Oxford while
UK exports to Germany supported a further 500,000
jobs.
He will also meet Armin Theodor Papperger, the chief executive of
Germany's largest defence and security company, Rheinmetall.
Rheinmetall is also vital to the modernisation of the British
Army, supporting thousands of jobs at sites in the south west and
Shropshire, and has recently made significant investments in its
Telford Hub to deliver Boxer armoured fighting vehicles.
The two-day European visit comes after the Prime Minister hosted
Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of
Bahrain, at Downing Street on Tuesday, to progress inward
investment from the Gulf.
The Prime Minister is expected to travel on to Paris for the
Paralympics Opening Ceremony on Wednesday night, before meeting
French business leaders, including major investors into the UK
economy, for breakfast on Thursday morning including from Thales,
Eutelsat, Mistral AI and Sanofi.
France is the UK's fourth-largest trading partner, accounting for
6% of all UK trade. The Prime Minister will then go on to meet
Paralympians as they prepare for competition, before meeting
President Macron at the Elysée Palace.
Prime Minister will say:
“We have a once in a generation opportunity to reset our
relationship with Europe and strive for genuine, ambitious
partnerships that deliver for the British people.
“We must turn a corner on Brexit and fix the broken relationships
left behind by the previous government. That work started at the
European Political Community meeting last month, and I am
determined to continue it, which is why I am visiting Germany and
France this week.
“Strengthening our relationship with these countries is crucial,
not only in tackling the global problem of illegal migration, but
also in boosting economic growth across the continent and
crucially in the UK – one of the key missions of my
government.”
The new UK-Germany treaty will be a key pillar of the UK's wider
reset with Europe and build on the defence agreement, which is
currently being negotiated between the two countries, and
expected to be finalised in the autumn.
The Prime Minister's negotiating team will spend the next six
months agreeing the new treaty, with both sides wanting to agree
the new partnership in early 2025.
The ambitious agreement is expected to cover vital areas for
increased collaboration, such as market access, critical science,
innovation and tech, clean energy, trade across the North Sea,
supply chain resilience, energy security and green transition
education, biodiversity, and the environment.
A treaty of such magnitude has never been agreed between the UK
and Germany. Alongside the longstanding Lancaster House Treaties
that underpin the UK's relationship with France, this new
agreement will bring all E3 members in line as our governments
work in lockstep on key geo-political issues, such as the
conflict in the Middle East and war in Ukraine.
Germany is a central part of the Government's push to recalibrate
relations with Europe, given the close cultural ties and defence
collaboration.
The leaders are also expected to discuss joint action to tackle
illegal migration, including further intelligence sharing to
intercept and shut down organised immigration crime rings.
The Prime Minister will also reiterate his personal condolences
to the German people following the attack in Solingen on Friday,
where three people died.
The European visit is the fifth time the Prime Minister has met
Chancellor Scholz and the fourth time meeting President Macron,
following the NATO Summit in Washington, the European Political
Community hosted at Blenheim Palace, the UEFA Euro 2024 final,
and the Olympic opening ceremony hosted last month.
The European business drive comes ahead of the Prime Minister
hosting a major International Investment Summit in October to
advance opportunities for investment and growth across the
country and deliver for the British people.
