Sir Keir Starmer has said his government wants a reset with the EU – “but that doesn’t mean reversing Brexit or re-entering the single market”.
Following a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, the prime minister said plans for a new treaty with Germany are about a “reset” with the EU.
He said he hopes for a “wider reset” with the bloc, but added: “That does not mean reversing Brexit or re-entering the single market or the customs union.
“But it does mean a closer relationship on a number of fronts, including the economy, including defence, including exchanges, but we do not have plans for a youth mobility scheme.”
Sir Keir is in Germany to discuss a new bilateral treaty covering a range of issues including market access, clean energy, trade, and tackling illegal migration.
Mr Scholz and Sir Keir said they hope a deal will be in place by the end of the year as they both called it a “once in a generation” opportunity.
However, they provided few details of what the agreement could look like.
Sir Keir said: “Britain can advance its interests much more effectively when we work with friends and partners.
“This treaty is part of a wider reset, grounded in a new spirit of cooperation with our shared understanding that this will be developed at pace, and that we hope to have agreed it by the end of the year.”
Illegal migration and defence cooperation
The two countries agreed to develop a “joint action plan to tackle illegal migration”, which will allow them to better “deal with issues like data sharing, intelligence sharing”, the prime minister said.
Sir Keir said his “substantive discussions” with Mr Scholz would help to take down the gangs running the “vile trade of putting people in dangerous situations across Europe and across the Channel”.
They also spoke about a new defence agreement, which Sir Keir said will build on the “already formidable” cooperation between the two countries.
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The pair did not provide details of what is in the defence agreement but said it “begins with our unyielding support for Ukraine”, with the UK and Germany being Europe’s largest contributors to Ukraine in the war with Russia.
Sir Keir added the two countries agree on Middle East issues, including: “Israel’s right to self-defence in compliance with international humanitarian law, the need for de-escalation across the region, and for restraint and caution to be exercised, unfettered humanitarian access into Gaza, agreement to a ceasefire and release of all hostages, and the importance of working together towards a political solution based on the creation of a Palestinian state and Palestinians.”
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Germany boosts migrant deportations
Asked if the two leaders would work on agreeing to make it easier for Germans and British people under 30 to get visas to each country, Sir Keir said there were no plans.
He said: “But we do have plans for a closer relationship between us and the EU as part of that wide set.
“So the position today is exactly as it was before the election.
“But what we’ve been able to do today is to move that forward with the bilateral, treaty agreement. And to reiterate our desire to reset the relationships with the EU.”
However, shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake said rather than “turning a corner” on Brexit, the prime minister was making “u-turns”.
He added: “Within days of getting into government, Labour’s minister for European Union relations said Brexit had ‘tarnished’ the UK’s international reputation. Now Keir Starmer is cosying up to politicians in Germany and calling for a closer relationship with Europe.
“Starmer has spent his entire political career plotting to reverse Brexit, so it doesn’t take a genius to see where the new Labour government is headed.”
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Sir Keir has now travelled to Paris to attend the Paralympics opening ceremony on Wednesday night.
He was pictured on Wednesday afternoon meeting France’s President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the event, who he is due to hold talks with on Thursday after attending a breakfast meeting with French business leaders.
