Image source, Getty Images

As we have been reporting, frequent travellers from the UK to Germany will be allowed to use e-gates upon arrival by next month, with all UK nationals able to use them "as soon as technically possible".

Since the UK left the EU bloc, many popular holiday destinations have seen long queues of British travellers at airports as they wait for passports to be checked.

UK citizens can expect to be able to use e-gates across the EU in October - when a new scheme is planned to come into effect which enhances border security.

The new European Entry Exit Scheme (EES) gathers biometric data on citizens arriving in the EU from non-member, third party countries which the UK is since Brexit.

At the UK-EU summit in May, it was agreed that there was no legal barrier to UK citizens using EU e-gates.

The Cabinet Office says that since then, e-gates access for travellers from the U has increased in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Portugal.

Image source, EPA

Today marks a "historic day for German-British relations," Merz says, welcoming the signing of the Kensington treaty in a post on X.

"Our treaty on friendship stands for freedom, security and prosperity — and for bringing our young generations closer together," he says.

Damian Grammaticas
Political correspondent

Image source, EPA

As I mentioned earlier, the treaty covers a range of issues - including on defence and migration.

On economic growth, the treaty states the UK and Germany will promote investment and trade, seek jointly to develop “the renewable energy potential in the North Sea” and co-operate in scientific research and AI together with a separate dialogue between finance ministries.

There’s also a pledge to “increase exchanges between young people”, including an agreement to make it easier for German school children to come on trips to the UK.

The leaders say they’ll work together when it comes to global health threats, development, and climate change.

And, every two years, the UK and German leaders will meet and set out an “Implementation Plan of projects .. for the following two-year period”.

Damian Grammaticas
Political correspondent

Image source, EPA

Across 23-pages this treaty sets out the scope and the mechanisms of what the UK and Germany say will be their new and closer relationship.

On international issues, they pledge a formal process where “Senior Level Officials shall meet annually to co-ordinate foreign, security and defence policy” to counter hostile states, foreign interference and hybrid threats.

And the treaty states the countries “shall assist one another, including by military means, in case of an armed attack on the other” - a repeat of their Nato commitments to each other.

The treaty talks about strengthening the defence of Europe’s northern and eastern flanks, which is a reference to the threat they both believe Russia poses. It also contains work on joint projects to produce and export defence equipment.

On terrorism, migration and organised crime, there will be another annual dialogue and co-operation in “the joint fight against organised cross-border crime involving migrant smuggling”.

Among the pledges in the treaty is a new direct rail link to Germany, with hopes that services could begin within the next decade.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says this will pioneer "a new era of European rail connectivity".

"The Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie - in just a matter of years, rail passengers in the UK could be able to visit these iconic sites direct from the comfort of a train, thanks to a direct connection linking London and Berlin," she says.

It's worth noting this doesn't mean a new trainline will be built. Instead the treaty aims to remove barriers in order to establish the service.

Adam Durbin
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Both the German and British governments have published the treaty, which includes a list of 17 joint UK-Germany projects. Here's a look at some of the highlights:

E-gates

• Frequent travellers to Germany will be allowed through e-gates at the German border by August
• All UK nationals will then be permitted "as soon as technically possible"

New rail link to Germany

• Work will begin to remove barriers in order to establish a direct rail service between the two countries within the next 10 years
• A task force will be set up to explore establishing border controls - similar to that used by Eurostar passengers who are travelling to France, Belgium and the Netherlands

School trips and worker mobility

• Provisions for visa-free school group travel to be made possible by the end of the year, to increase "opportunities for linguistic, cultural and academic experiences"
• A group of experts will identify solutions to "mobility issues", including "challenges faced by educational and scientific institutions, cultural bodies and political organisations"

Action plan on irregular migration

• The UK and Germany will co-operate more on deterrence, strengthening law enforcement and increasing "efforts on returns" to tackle irregular migration
• As we've been reporting, Germany will introduce a new law by the end of the year making the "facilitation of irregular migration to the UK" a crime

Adam Durbin
Live reporter

We're looking through the 23-page treaty signed by Merz and Starmer, published by the German government.

Many passages highlight the need for greater co-operation between the countries due to rising global threats, including Russia's increasing aggression and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Here's a look at some of the key agreements:

Security and defence

Both countries have agreed to greater cooperation in a variety of areas, including joint military and training exercises, working to counter cyber threats and information warfare and coordinating on arms exports.

Climate and the environment

Germany and the UK have reiterated their commitment to limit global warming to the critical 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, laid out in the Paris Climate Accords.

Economics and trade

The treaty pledges to strengthen bilateral trade within the framework of EU-UK agreements and a commitment to free and open markets, as well as promoting employment and growing the number of high-quality jobs through economic growth.

Other areas of interest

The treaty also promotes cooperation in science and technology development, including joint research initiatives and education projects.

It also highlights a support for cultural exchange, youth mobility and partnerships in education, in order to strengthen the ties between the UK and Germany.

We've just received the full text of the Kensington Treaty - or more precisely the Treaty on Friendship and Bilateral Co-operation - from the German government.

The document covers a range of issues related to Germany and the UK, with a specific focus on security and defence.

Our reporters are looking through the document to bring you the key lines - stick with us.

Image source, PA Media

Fresh from signing the Kensington Treaty, Chancellor Merz says he was "surprised" to learn it was the first UK-Germany treaty since the Second World War.

"We had you in the European Union and we thought that was enough, but we are now learning that it's not enough so we have to do more on that," he says.

Starmer describes the treaty as a "historic document which really measures just how close our countries are and our ambition for the future".

"I'm really pleased that both our countries' close relationship and your and my strong and close relationship at a time of real volatility in the world is really important to both our countries," he adds.

We can bring you the latest comments from Keir Starmer who says it is a "privilege" to have Friedrich Merz in the UK.

Starmer says the UK-Germany treaty they have signed - dubbed the Kensington Treaty - is "the first of its kind ever" between the two countries and is evidence of "the closeness of our relationship as it stands today".

The prime minister adds the new agreement acts as a "statement of intent, a statement of our ambition to work ever more closely together".

Image source, PA Media

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Friedrich Merz have signed the UK-Germany deal on defence and migration.

The pair, joined by foreign ministers Lammy and Wadephul, signed the Kensington Treaty at a ceremony at the V&A museum earlier today.

It's the biggest UK-Germany treaty since the end of World War Two in 1945.

Image source, Reuters

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have arrived at Downing Street.

Damien McGuinness
Berlin correspondent

Image source, Reuters

With his international business background and confident English skills, Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz is comfortable on the global stage.

A fervent trans-Atlanticist and ardent supporter of the EU, he sees himself as a global team player.

Despite this, Germany watched Merz’s inaugural visit to Washington in June nervously, worried about how he might be treated by a mercurial Donald Trump.

But Merz is also a keen golf player who manages a blokey, backslapping style more easily than his predecessors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz. So far, the German chancellor appears to be managing a friendly but firm relationship with the US president.

Things are going less well for Merz at home. His blunt, off-the-cuff comments - so different to the reticent style of recent chancellors - have left aides scrambling.

And a current, nasty row with coalition partners over appointing a top judge indicates a potential lack of political authority at home.

Image source, Getty Images

Chancellor Merz and Prime Minister Starmer are due to meet at Downing Street shortly.

As a reminder, the leaders are set to sign a deal on migration, defence and the economy - the biggest UK-Germany treaty since 1945.

You can follow the developments by clicking Watch Live at the top of this page.

A series of commercial investments in the UK worth £200m are being announced to coincide with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to the UK.

One of the companies involved is German defence technology company STARK, which has announced it is opening its first factory outside of Germany in Swindon, England, creating 100 jobs.

STARK's managing director Mike Armstrong tells Radio 4's Today programme they are "really excited" to open up the 40,000sq ft facility.

He says "collaboration is absolutely essential" across Europe.

When asked about the process and how it's going, he says there is "great intent" at a strategic level, but he thinks "they can move quicker". He adds he is "quite positive" about the process.

Image source, Reuters

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Germany has committed to changing the law "so we can disrupt the supply of small boats".

"Working with our international partners gets results for British people," he writes on X.

"We will smash the people smuggling gangs and secure our borders."

Johannes Volkmann, a member of the German Bundestag, says Brexit "left some holes that need to be patched" in UK-German relations.

Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, Volkmann - who is a member of Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party - says "it's not a secret that most Germans regretted the UK leaving the European Union".

He adds that Germany being "embedded in European integration is something that will benefit all of the continent and not threaten it".

Discussing the summit today, Volkmann says both Germany and the UK "want to do more to prevent secondary migration".

He adds: "There is tremendous political will with this German government to end illegal migration to Europe."

Image source, Reuters

As we've been reporting, German foreign minister Johann Wadephul has arrived in the UK - alongside Merz - and is expected to hold talks with his UK counterpart, David Lammy.

The pair met last month in Geneva in an effort to persuade Iran to back down on its nuclear programme.

Their discussions today are likely to focus on the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East.

We'll bring you the key lines, so stick with us.

Image source, X/@GermanAmbUK

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and foreign minister Johann Wadephul have now landed in the UK, the country's ambassador to the UK says.

In a post on X, external, Miguel Berger describes their visit as "an important day in UK-German relations," saying a "ground-breaking and far-reaching" treaty will be signed today.

Damien McGuinness
Berlin correspondent

Image source, EPA

A main focus of the new “friendship treaty” between Germany and the UK is defence.

Berlin views this as especially important since Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine.

The chancellor is travelling with German arms manufacturers. The treaty includes a mutual defence agreement, pledging that each country will come to the other’s aid in case of an attack.

The other main point is a commitment to work together economically, to boost growth. German officials say it’s about filling the gaps left by Brexit.

In general, the treaty reads more like a statement of intent. Officials say the concrete steps will be announced in an action plan.

Germany already has “friendship treaties” with its neighbours Poland and France, and these agreements have led to deeper political and economic co-operation. 


There is a feeling in Berlin that the US can no longer be relied upon. For many in Germany, given the uncertainties around the transatlantic relationship, European co-operation feels more urgent than ever.