Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 23 July 2025.

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday evening.

The two leaders looked ahead to today’s International Defence Industry Fair in Istanbul, where their Defence Ministers have taken the next step towards signing a multi-billion-pound export deal of UK-built Typhoon jets to Türkiye.

The Prime Minister added that once fully finalised, this enhanced military co-operation will strengthen NATO’s collective defences and keep us safer during uncertain times, as well as sustaining 20,000 UK jobs and driving growth.

Turning to the Middle East, they discussed the intolerable situation in Gaza and underlined the urgent need for more aid and an urgent ceasefire, in order to pave the way for a two-state solution and a secure future for Palestinians and Israelis.

They reiterated their concern about the recent violence in Syria, and agreed that the ceasefire must hold.

The Prime Minister thanked the President for Türkiye’s convening role in the upcoming talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul today, as well as the discussions due to take place on Iran’s nuclear programme later this week.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 22 July 2025.

The King has been pleased to approve the following appointment:

• Lord Lemos CMG CBE as Lord in Waiting (Government Whip).

Lord Moraes OBE has left the Government.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 July 2025.

The Prime Minister spoke to the Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin this afternoon.

The leaders began with a constructive discussion on a framework for dealing with legacy and underscored the importance of a way forward that built consensus.

Turning to the shared challenges faced by the UK and Ireland, including on trade and growth, the leaders agreed on the importance of working closely together to deliver for people in both countries.

The Prime Minister also updated on his recent visits by the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Both the Prime Minister and Taoiseach welcomed the closer relationship between the UK and the EU.

The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 July 2025.

His Majesty The King has been pleased to approve the appointment of Sir James Dingemans as the Senior President of Tribunals.

Background

Biography of candidate

Lord Justice Dingemans was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1987 and took Silk in 2002. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2002, authorised to hear cases under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 in the King’s Bench division in 2010 and a High Court Judge in 2013. He was a Presiding Judge on the Western Circuit between 2015 and 2018 and was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2019. He served as Vice President of the King’s Bench Division between 2020 and 2025, and as lead judge for international relations for the judiciary between 2021 and 2025.

The appointment

The appointment of the Senior President of Tribunals is made by His Majesty The King on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor following the recommendation of an independent selection panel chaired by Baroness Carr, the Lady Chief Justice. The other panel members were: Lady Wise (President of the Scottish Tribunals), Helen Pitcher OBE (Chair of the JAC), Ms Sue Hoyle OBE (Lay JAC Commissioner) and Ms Clare McGlynn (Lay JAC Commissioner).

The Senior President of Tribunals (“SPT”) is a free-standing judicial office created by Parliament through the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. The SPT is the independent head of the reserved tribunals’ judiciary in the United Kingdom.

The SPT establishes and communicates the judicial strategic direction within the tribunals’ jurisdiction and is the judicial leader of more than 5000 judicial office holders. The SPT is supported by 14 Tribunal Presidents, and works with them to ensure the tribunals system is accessible, efficient and fair. The SPT has a number of statutory responsibilities, which includes representing the views of tribunal judges and members to Parliament, the Lord Chancellor and Ministers and having responsibility for training, welfare and guidance within tribunals. The Senior President will regularly liaise with the geographic Chief Justices, the heads of devolved tribunals in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Heads of Division and the Senior Presiding Judge in England and Wales, and the Judicial Offices in each jurisdiction, as well as Ministers and senior officials in each Government, to discuss strategy and operational issues affecting the tribunals justice system.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 July 2025.

The Prime Minister met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Downing Street this afternoon following the signing of a new UK-Germany bilateral treaty, the first of its kind.

The leaders reflected on the importance of the Treaty in demonstrating the UK and Germany’s status as the closest of strategic partners and celebrated the opportunity to deepen ties, tackle shared challenges, and invest in shared strengths together.

The Prime Minister thanked Chancellor Merz for his commitment to introduce legislation to be adopted by the end of the year to make it illegal to facilitate illegal migration to the UK. The Prime Minister said that this will make a significant difference in disrupting the criminal networks driving small boats crossings to the UK. Both leaders agreed that tackling irregular migration is an absolute priority and they would look at how they could go further together to tackle it.

The Prime Minister also welcomed the news that Germany would be opening its eGates for frequent travellers from the UK by the end of the summer and looked forward to this being extended to all travellers as soon as possible.

On defence and security, the leaders reflected on the important commitments made today to deliver the new Deep Precision Strike capability within the next decade and agreed that closer cooperation on defence exports and between their defence industries will pose valuable opportunities for economic growth in both the UK and Germany.

They agreed that it remains vital to provide steadfast support to Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s illegal war, and that they would stand together with Ukraine as long as it takes.

Turning to the situation in the Middle East, the leaders agreed that the situation in Gaza was unacceptable. They underlined the urgent need for a ceasefire, and the return of all hostages, to pave the way for a two-state solution and a secure future for Palestinians and Israelis.

Finally, the leaders reflected on how the Treaty signed today would be the basis of a relationship between their two countries that would be closer than ever and looked forward to continuing to work together on their shared priorities.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 July 2025.

Treaty between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany on friendship and bilateral cooperation.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany, hereinafter referred to as “the Parties”,

Guided by the desire to join forces for a prosperous, secure and sustainable future for their citizens and their open, democratic societies in the face of fundamental changes of the geopolitical environment;

Inspired by a common will to address the momentous new challenges to Euro-Atlantic security in an era characterised by increased strategic competition, challenges to the rules-based international order and challenges to their democracies from increasing hybrid threats;

Identifying the Russian Federation’s brutal war of aggression on the European continent as the most significant and direct threat to their security;

Convinced that they will better master these challenges by deepening their close cooperation as European neighbours and allies on the basis of the strong ties that connect their countries, peoples and governments and their shared history, values and interests;

Determined to join forces to assert these values and interests in close cooperation in a changing world, and to uphold peace and security for their citizens; convinced of the need to pursue a broad, integrated and multifaceted approach to their security;

Guided by their steadfast commitment to individual liberty, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in open societies, and by their will to work together for the good of the European continent and of an international order based on shared rules, norms and principles;

Convinced that prosperity and security can only be guaranteed by limiting the increase of global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and conserving biodiversity and ecosystems; recognising the importance of their free and open market economies and of delivering mutual growth, including through their trade and investment relationship, to provide high-quality jobs to their citizens and underpin their prosperity while ensuring growth aligns with their net zero commitments and a just transition;

Convinced of the imperative of international cooperation to seize the opportunities and mitigate the risks of technological change; reaffirming the critical role that science, innovation and technology as well as education play in contributing to their collective security and their sustainable economic growth and prosperity, and recognising the value of building cooperation in critical areas of science and technology that will shape their futures;

Recalling the Federal Republic of Germany’s membership in the European Union and the commitments and obligations resulting therefrom; and the legal framework for the relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland underpinned by the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement; sharing the view that their cooperation is consistent with and benefits from the wider relationship of the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and that a positive development of the latter is in their shared interest;

Reaffirming their ironclad commitment to the Transatlantic Alliance as the bedrock of their security, based on shared values, and a shared commitment to the security of the Euro-Atlantic area, and underpinned by enhanced European contributions;

Commending the Agreement on Defence cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany, signed at Trinity House in London on 23 October 2024;

Mindful of the vital role, specific responsibilities and interests of municipalities, the German Länder, the German Bundestag and Bundesrat in the Federal Republic of Germany, and of the devolved governments, Parliaments and legislative assemblies and the Houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Chapter 1

Diplomacy, Security and Development

ARTICLE 1

• The Parties shall consult each other on foreign and security policy matters to enable the closest cooperation across all shared priorities. They shall work together on their respective policies and seek to establish joint approaches, including with regard to their collaboration with global partners and in multilateral and other settings.
• The Parties shall pursue deep exchanges on strategic aspects of security policy, including deterrence and defence, nuclear issues, arms control, non-proliferation, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear threats space security, counter-terrorism and the broader international security architecture, in order to support the security of Europe and the world. They shall increase cooperation on intelligence and national security capabilities in order to contribute effectively to this goal.
• The Parties shall deepen their cooperation to understand, counter and respond to threats and hostile actions by state and non-state actors. The Parties shall work together on their approaches to crisis management, consular support and conflict resolution and prevention.
• The Parties emphasise the importance of close cooperation on sanctions policy and implementation, to strengthen their effectiveness.
• Foreign Ministers shall hold an annual Strategic Dialogue. A Senior Level Officials Group shall meet annually to coordinate foreign, security and defence policy.

ARTICLE 2

• The Parties shall strive to strengthen the Strategic Partnership between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Union, including through the Security and Defence Partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Federal Republic of Germany affirms its deep and unwavering commitment to its role as a founding member of the European Union, which remains a foundation of its policy decisions.
• The Parties shall seek to intensify the trilateral cooperation with the French Republic, as well as their cooperation with other partners, and within multilateral formats such as the G7 and the United Nations, in order to jointly address international challenges.

ARTICLE 3

(1) The Parties reaffirm their commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as the foundation of their collective defence and to their obligations as stipulated in the North Atlantic Treaty of 4 April 1949, in particular Article 5. The Federal Republic of Germany reaffirms its deep commitment to its obligations as a member of the European Union, including paragraph 7 of Article 42 of the Treaty on European Union.

(2) The Parties shall work together as North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Allies to ensure the Alliance continues to strengthen collective deterrence and defence against all threats and from all directions and to enhance the European contribution to Europe’s own security. To this end, they shall coordinate their positions, including in the area of deterrence and defence, and ensure that increased contributions and investments deliver on their commitments. They commit to working towards fostering close and effective cooperation between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union.

• Conscious of the close alignment of their vital interests and convinced that there is no strategic threat to one which would not be a strategic threat to the other, the Parties affirm as close Allies their deep commitment to each other’s defence and shall assist one another, including by military means, in case of an armed attack on the other.

ARTICLE 4

(1) The Parties share deep concern at the threats and challenges posed by hybrid threats and foreign interference from state actors and their proxies using increasingly aggressive actions to undermine their security and democratic values, and those of their Allies and partners. These include inter alia sabotage, malicious cyber activity, foreign information manipulation and interference and the malign use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

(2) The Parties shall work to strengthen resilience as well as build capacity and capability to detect, deter, disrupt, and respond to these threats. They acknowledge the key roles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the G7, and the European Union in this regard. To achieve this, the Parties shall consider means such as information sharing, the development of tools, coordination of disruption and response options, and exchanges of lessons learned and other means.

(3) The Parties shall continue to cooperate in the field of cyber diplomacy, cybersecurity and emerging technologies. They also agree to promote responsible behaviour in cyberspace.

ARTICLE 5

Guided by the principles of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Parties shall cooperate strategically on sustainable development, crisis prevention and response, peacebuilding, stabilisation and humanitarian assistance. They shall support strong coordination in the nexus between humanitarian, development and peace efforts. They shall work together on the protection and promotion of global public goods including climate, biodiversity, global health and education. Jointly they shall fight inequalities worldwide, including through the empowerment of women and girls. They will work together on anticipatory action to improve local resilience and promote inclusive and locally led responses to crises. Both countries shall contribute jointly to strengthening and reforming the multilateral system and the international financial architecture, making them more just, effective and sustainable and ensuring they deliver for the most vulnerable. They shall hold a regular intergovernmental dialogue on these topics.

ARTICLE 6

The Parties shall seek closer collaboration to address health threats and advance global health priorities including pandemic prevention, preparedness and response as well as anti-microbial resistance and the ‘One-Health’ approach. They shall work on these issues both bilaterally and via more coordinated, effective, and efficient global health institutions. The Parties shall share experiences to tackle common domestic health issues.

Chapter 2

Defence Cooperation

ARTICLE 7

(1) In this new era for enhanced European defence, the Parties share the strategic objective to reinforce Euro-Atlantic security and ensure effective deterrence against potential aggressors by building credible, resilient defence forces, strengthening their capability across all domains. The Parties shall seek to support their defence industries and enhance bilateral military interoperability, interchangeability and integration. They shall ensure their mutual support to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, committing to working together towards the vision of a peaceful and secure Euro-Atlantic area.

(2) The Parties remain committed to improving and further strengthening bilateral defence cooperation. They shall build a long-term partnership to improve and further enhance European defence, also with a view to enabling enhanced cooperation with Allies and partners.

(3) The Parties shall intensify their cooperation through joint political leadership, enhanced dialogue, and agreed mechanisms. They shall deepen their cooperation on deterrence and regularly review their collaboration in order to meet future threats across all domains: Land, Sea, Air, Space and Cyber.

(4) Sharing a special interest and focus on the northern and eastern flanks of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the Parties shall work together, alongside their North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Allies, to strengthen deterrence and defence to these areas, coordinating their forces where possible.

(5) The Parties reaffirm their determination to meet their commitments as North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Allies, to be prepared for high-intensity and multi-domain collective defence. They shall provide such forces, capabilities, resources and infrastructure as are needed to enable the execution of the Defence Plans of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

(6) The Parties shall seek to enhance industrial and capability cooperation through a long-term joint approach endeavouring to deliver effective military capabilities efficiently, minimising national constraints, and strengthening industrial competitiveness.

(7) The Parties shall endeavour to maintain a close dialogue on defence issues of mutual interest and global horizon-scanning, including on nuclear issues.

ARTICLE 8

(1) The Parties recognise the importance of having a reliable agenda with regard to transfers and exports in order to ensure the economic and political success of their industrial and intergovernmental cooperation and their respective competence to authorise the transfer or export, from their territory, of defence-related products from intergovernmental programmes or developed by their industries.

(2) Recognising the joint and unanimous invitation dated 25 June 2025 from the contracting parties of the Agreement on Defence Export Controls concluded by the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Kingdom of Spain on 17 September 2021 (the “Agreement on Defence Export Controls ”) to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to accede to such Agreement on Defence Export Controls, the Parties agree to preliminarily apply as between them, in their cooperation on defence export controls, Articles 1 to 5 and Annexes 1 to 3 of the Agreement on Defence Export Controls until the date on which the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland accedes to such Agreement on Defence Export Controls.

(3) In the event that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland accedes to the Agreement on Defence Export Controls, paragraph 2 of the present Article shall cease to have effect.

Chapter 3

Internal Security, Justice and Migration

ARTICLE 9

• The Parties shall cooperate closely and equitably to counter state and non-state threats to their internal security, including to critical infrastructure, making best use of all suitable policy, legal, operational, diplomatic and technological tools and mechanisms and ensuring that law enforcement bodies and intelligence agencies have the right tools and capabilities.
• The Parties shall work together bilaterally and through multilateral organisations to improve their law enforcement capabilities. They shall work with INTERPOL to support the integrity of the international system and prevent abuse by malign actors. They acknowledge the vital role of European Union agencies, such as Europol and Eurojust, in this regard. They shall consider further ways to strengthen their response to organised crime and terrorism, noting the challenges posed by hybrid threats.

(3) The Parties agree that it is in their common interest to cooperate closely on preventing and countering transnational serious and organised crime, including criminal offences falling within the jurisdiction of the customs authorities. They re-confirm their cooperation in the joint efforts to strengthen anti-money laundering and counter the financing of terrorism and their fight against illicit financial flows and other shared organised crime threats, such as drug trafficking.

(4) The Parties shall continue to hold a Home Affairs Dialogue at senior official level at least annually which covers the full range of Home Affairs issues, including tackling serious and organised crime, including migrant smuggling, and border security. The Parties shall pursue a comparable bilateral exchange on criminal offences falling within the jurisdiction of the customs authorities.

(5) The Parties shall strengthen collaboration to counter terrorist threats to both their countries, including on protective security measures against emerging threats.

ARTICLE 10

(1) The Parties are committed to fostering the most effective cooperation in criminal justice matters between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany.

(2) The Parties shall work to intensify collaboration on the rule of law, including in its promotion overseas, and exchange learning on the modernisation of their domestic justice systems.

(3) The Parties shall share information, best practice and technical assistance in civil and family matters.

ARTICLE 11

(1) Recognising the challenge from irregular migration and global pressures, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany commit to being active leaders in the global conversation on migration, asylum and borders. The Parties shall cooperate in the joint fight against organised cross-border crime involving migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons. They will support the provision of mutual legal assistance and the prosecution of offenders involved in the smuggling of migrants into and between the two countries. The Parties affirm their joint commitment to border security and regulated migration systems.

(2) The Parties shall deepen comprehensive partnerships with countries of origin and transit to address the upstream drivers of irregular migration, including by meeting humanitarian needs, providing education and skills training, boosting employment, and building resilience to conflict and climate change. The Parties recognise that safe and legal pathways in line with national competences are important for regular and orderly migration. Both Parties support a safe, regulated migration system, and share a firm commitment to international law and human rights standards.

Chapter 4

Economic Growth, Resilience and Competitiveness

ARTICLE 12

• The Parties shall work together to support economic growth, job creation, digital transition and innovation. This includes delivering a just industrial transformation that enables a sustainable and carbon-neutral future and takes into account the needs of future generations. They shall therefore identify vulnerabilities and collaborate on policies.
• The Parties acknowledge strong business-to-business and people-to-people ties, including many Small and Medium Enterprises, as the foundation of their economic relationship, and agree to take forward joint work in the field of promoting trade and investment, to further build value chains between their countries.
• The Parties shall work together to deliver their shared ambition of mobilising investment in opportunities that will grow their economies. In doing so, they shall take into consideration the important role of private sector investment and the benefits of coordinating activities between public financial institutions.
• The Parties recognise the need to strengthen the multilateral trading system particularly by supporting reform of the World Trade Organisation including through discussions in relevant international fora such as the G7 and G20.

(5) The Parties agree to continue the structured annual dialogue between their ministries of finance, and explore further opportunities to support exchanges between economic experts.

ARTICLE 13

• The Parties, acknowledging the strength and complementarity of their economies as well as the importance of a favourable business environment, commit to working with business to drive growth and strengthen the business, commercial and industrial links between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany. The Parties shall focus their cooperation particularly on those areas where it will be most effective in securing the future competitiveness of their economies.
• The Parties shall work jointly to take full advantage of the significant economic opportunities arising from the green transition, including in particular the renewable energy potential in the North Sea.
• The Parties recognise the importance of long-term industrial cooperation and shall work together to identify opportunities for coordination and cooperation in the context of their industrial transformations.
• The Parties shall enhance transport connectivity and collaborate in the field of sustainable, innovative and universally accessible transport solutions and mobility, including cooperation to support the decarbonisation of transport. To this end, they will seek to facilitate direct long distance rail passenger services between their countries.
• The Parties share the common goal of strengthening the international competitiveness of their aerospace industries and at the same time significantly reducing the climate impact of aviation. Therefore, the Parties agree to further strengthen the existing bilateral activities in the field of aerospace research and to engage in consultations between the ministries and their national research institutions on a regular basis.
• The Parties’ responsible ministries agree to a structured exchange to address the issues of inclusive and sustainable employment and social policy, just transition of the economy, society and the work environment, and ethical principles and shared values in the context of digital transformation, ensuring that digitalisation and the evolving digital society meet the rights and needs of citizens and the work environment in both countries.
• The Parties shall work together to enhance their domestic housing policies, to promote innovative approaches to sustainable construction and buildings, and to share best practice on urban matters, with a view to achieving cities that are socially, ecologically, and economically balanced They shall cooperate in multilateral settings on these matters.

ARTICLE 14

The Parties commit to working together to safeguard economic stability. They shall strive to strengthen economic resilience to safeguard and protect their national security and deliver secure, sustainable and resilient growth. They shall increase dialogue on economic security to enhance cooperation on priorities such as supply chain resilience, including for critical raw materials, critical technology and critical infrastructure as well as protective toolkits.

ARTICLE 15

(1) The Parties shall intensify their cooperation in the field of science, technology, research and innovation, including in critical and emerging areas and research security. The Parties agree to consider funding channels and other means to develop joint bilateral and multilateral activities.

(2) The Parties shall place special emphasis on their cooperation on innovative or disruptive technologies, ensuring they are able to capitalise more effectively on their strengths in basic and applied research to enable their businesses to grow through the development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services.

(3) The Parties shall promote the global development and deployment of technologies, with particular attention to ensuring the secure and responsible advancement of fields such as artificial intelligence or space.

(4) The Parties agree to regular and structured exchanges on science, innovation and technology, building on existing structures including the Science, Innovation and Technology Dialogue. The Parties commit to cooperate on current and future challenges across research and innovation, and emerging and critical technologies. This cooperation will include promoting technology development and adoption, international governance, competition policy, sustainability and exchanges on regulatory issues consistent with national competence.

ARTICLE 16

(1) The Parties shall intensify their cooperation in the field of digitalisation and modernisation of the state, including digitalisation of society, economy, science, government and public administration. The Parties agree to consider funding channels and other means to develop joint bilateral and multilateral activities.

(2) The Parties agree to regular and structured exchanges on digitalisation and the modernisation of the state, building on existing structures including a dialogue on digital policy. The Parties commit to cooperate on current and future challenges across digital and data affairs, digitalisation of the state and digital sovereignty.

Chapter 5

Open and Resilient Societies

ARTICLE 17

• The Parties shall cooperate on strategies for strengthening the resilience of their democracies in order to build resilient societies which are able to contribute to their countries’ security and to withstand the increasing attempts of interference and manipulation.
• The Parties shall deepen their cooperation in the fight against all forms of hate crime, whilst promoting freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief.

ARTICLE 18

• The Parties shall strive to reduce obstacles in order to promote exchanges between their citizens on all levels. They shall work towards strengthening people-to-people contacts. The Parties shall promote smoother border fluidity and will provide each other’s citizens access to automated border technology.
• Particular focus shall be placed on increasing exchange between young people. The Parties value bilateral school and youth exchanges, and shall facilitate such exchanges, supporting the development of relevant structures and initiatives, such as the “UK-German Connection”.
• The Parties recognise the importance of vocational training, university education and learning opportunities such as internships. The Parties shall jointly endeavour to increase exchanges within their own legislative frameworks with regard to education, skills and training.
• The Parties shall promote closer relations in all fields of cultural expression, including activities to promote dialogue and cooperation to share best practice between cultural institutions; close cooperation of the British Council and Goethe-Institut; and establishment of an intergovernmental Working Group on Creative Technology.
• The Parties acknowledge the important role of civil society and they shall strive to support the work of educational institutions, cultural bodies and political organisations.
• The Parties shall use the annual meetings of the Cultural Commission to the ends of this Article.

Chapter 6

Climate, Energy, Nature, Environment and Agriculture

ARTICLE 19

• The Parties shall further deepen their bilateral and multilateral cooperation to mitigate the effects of climate change and to pursue efforts to limit the increase of global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, including through implementation of the Paris Agreement, the Outcome of the first Global Stocktake adopted at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) and the Glasgow Climate Pact adopted at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 26).
• The Parties shall enhance their climate foreign policy collaboration and cooperation, including through the UK-Germany Climate Diplomacy Dialogue, to make financial flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development, address the interplay between climate, environment, peace, and security, and support developing countries to decarbonise their economies and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.
• Recognising the significant societal, environmental economic, and geopolitical impacts of the global energy transition and the shift towards climate neutrality, the Parties shall intensify their dialogue to anticipate and address emerging foreign policy and security challenges.

ARTICLE 20

• The Parties intend to work together under the Joint Declaration of Cooperation on Energy and Climate, including the Hydrogen Partnership, to realise their shared ambitions regarding: renewable energy; the role of hydrogen, in particular from renewable sources; carbon capture utilisation and storage, in particular in hard-to-abate sectors; energy security; net zero strategies and policies; and green transition. The scope and priorities for this work shall be reviewed by annual senior official and ministerial meetings.
• The Parties shall work together to achieve their respective domestic emissions reductions targets, to enhance domestic and global just energy transition resilience and security, including by improving energy and resource efficiency, and to provide secure, sustainable and affordable clean energy derived from renewable sources, in an effort to implement the goals laid out in the Paris Agreement and in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Recognising their leading role in the North Seas, they shall work together to accelerate the development of offshore wind energy, electricity, hydrogen and carbon dioxide infrastructures.

ARTICLE 21

• The Parties shall cooperate bilaterally and multilaterally to promote environmental protection and halt and reverse biodiversity loss in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including through restoring nature, halting and reversing deforestation, protecting the ocean, reducing plastic, chemical and air pollution and pursuing nature-based solutions.
• The Parties shall work together to promote resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems internationally, including high animal welfare standards. They shall focus in particular on achieving global food security and nutrition including as a means of pursuing global stability and security.

Chapter 7

Forms of Cooperation

ARTICLE 22

The Parties agree to hold government ministerial consultations led by Heads of Government every two years, which shall endorse an Implementation Plan of projects under the Treaty for the following two-year period. The venue for the consultations shall alternate between the two countries. Ministerial level dialogues on individual policy themes shall take place whenever both Parties deem appropriate. The Parties’ foreign ministries shall meet annually to review the bilateral relationship in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty.

ARTICLE 23

Existing cooperation agreements and Memoranda of Understanding between line ministries shall be continued and pursued in the framework of this Treaty.

Final Provisions

ARTICLE 24

This Treaty and its application shall be without prejudice to the Parties’ obligations stemming from international law and, in respect of the Federal Republic of Germany, its obligations stemming from its European Union membership. Nothing in this Treaty shall affect the Federal Republic of Germany’s obligations under European Union law.

ARTICLE 25

This Treaty shall apply:

(a) to the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany; and

(b)     to the territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and may be extended to any or all of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey, and the Isle of Man by mutual agreement between the Parties by exchange of notes.

ARTICLE 26

The Parties may agree, in writing, to amend this Treaty. Such amendments shall enter into force in accordance with Article 30.

ARTICLE 27

(1) A Party may terminate this Treaty by giving the other Party notice in writing. Such termination shall take effect six months after the date of the notification, or on such date as the Parties may agree.

(2) Either Party may request consultations regarding whether the termination of this Treaty should take effect on a date later than that provided in paragraph 1.

ARTICLE 28

Any disputes concerning the interpretation, application or implementation of the Treaty shall be resolved solely by negotiation between the Parties.

ARTICLE 29

Registration of this Treaty with the Secretariat of the United Nations, in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations, shall be initiated by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland immediately following its entry into force. The Federal Republic of Germany shall be informed of registration, and of the United Nations registration number, as soon as this has been confirmed by the Secretariat of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 30

(1) The present Treaty is subject to ratification; the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged as soon as possible.

(2) The present Treaty shall enter into force on the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 16 July 2025.

Brits and Germans alike will benefit from a closer partnership on the issues that matter most to them, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to host Chancellor Friedrich Merz for a comprehensive visit to London.

Brits and Germans alike will benefit from a closer partnership on the issues that matter most to them, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to host Chancellor Friedrich Merz for a comprehensive visit to London today (Thursday 17 July) to revamp the UK-Germany friendship and sign a first of its kind Bilateral Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.

Alongside the Treaty, Germany is expected to make a landmark commitment to make it illegal in Germany to facilitate illegal migration to the UK with the law change to be adopted by the end of the year.

The change will give law enforcement the tools they need to investigate and take action against warehouses and storage facilities used by migrant smugglers to conceal dangerous small boats intended for illegal crossings to the UK. This will bolster efforts to prosecute those involved in smuggling and support the dismantling of the criminal networks driving unacceptable and unlawful journeys through Europe.

This significant and long-awaited step is further evidence that the Prime Minister’s approach to working more closely with our European partners is bearing fruit, and demonstrates progress on delivering the Joint Action Plan on Irregular Migration agreed with Germany last year. Through increased cooperation between UK and German law enforcement bodies we are expanding efforts to tackle people smuggling and bring criminal networks to justice. In the last 18 months the NCA has worked with partners across Europe to seize more than 600 boats and engines, with this change expected to drive that number up further.

It will also complement bolstered UK efforts to smash the criminal gangs responsible for dangerous, illegal journeys to the UK via small boats, through the game-changing pilot returns agreement reached with France last week, and the continued work upstream of the Border Security Command to disrupt and deter criminal smuggling networks.

The new Treaty will detail closer collaboration on issues ranging from migration and security to business, commercial and infrastructure links. This joint commitment to pursue a range of ambitious projects demonstrates how closer partnerships with our trusted allies will help deliver the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“The progress we are making today is further proof that by investing in our relationships with likeminded friends and partners, we can deliver real change for working people.

“The Treaty we will sign today, the first of its kind, will bring the UK and Germany closer than ever. It not only marks the progress we have already made and the history we share. It is the foundation on which we go further to tackle shared problems and invest in shared strengths.

“Chancellor Merz’s commitment to make necessary changes to German law to disrupt the supply lines of the dangerous vessels which carry illegal migrants across the Channel is hugely welcome. As the closest of allies, we will continue to work closely together to deliver on the priorities that Brits and Germans share.”

Deepening our security and defence cooperation is also high on the agenda, with the leaders set to discuss their strong shared support for Ukraine.

Building on the landmark Trinity House Agreement on Defence signed in October, the leaders will unveil a new agreement to boost world-class UK defence exports such as Boxer armoured vehicles and Typhoon jets, with the two countries set to pursue joint export campaigns for jointly produced equipment. The agreement is likely to lead to billions of pounds additional defence exports in the coming years – excellent news for the UK economy and thousands of highly skilled defence industrial workers.

The leaders are also set to make a new commitment to deliver their new Deep Precision Strike capability in the next decade. The rapid development of this capability will safeguard the British public and reinforce NATO deterrence, while boosting the UK and European defence sectors through significant industrial investment. The new capability is set to have a range of over 2,000 km, and will be among the most advanced systems ever designed by the UK.

The Treaty also includes the establishment of a new UK-Germany Business Forum in order to improve business and investment relationship between the UK and Germany, with trade between the two countries already accounting for 8.5% of all UK trade and supporting almost 500,000 jobs. This is further illustrated by a series of commercial investment announced today worth more than £200 million and creating more than 600 new jobs.

One such example is German defence tech company, STARK, which has announced a landmark investment in the UK, marking its first production expansion outside of Germany. The move will create over 100 highly skilled jobs in the UK within the first year, including through STARK’s new 40,000 square feet facility in Swindon.

Mike Armstrong, Managing Director of STARK UK, said:

“The UK and Germany are world-leaders in new technology that will define the battlefields of the future. We need rapid and scalable production to protect our people, defend our sovereignty and deter aggression. That means resilient supply chains stretching across Europe.

“That is why STARK has chosen the UK as our first production location outside of Germany – taking advantage of the vast technological, industrial and defence expertise that exists here to create AI-powered, unmanned systems to defend Europe and NATO.”

Other announcements from German companies in the UK today include:

• Conversational AI firm Cognigy plans to invest £50 million in the UK, expanding its team from 13 to 150.
• AI ESG platform osapiens plans to invest £30 million in the UK, creating 150 high-skilled jobs.
• Siemens Energy is creating 200 new jobs as well as 100 new apprentices and graduates starting this autumn.
• Venture Capital fund, HV Capital, has the ambition to deploy around £150 million in the UK as part of their next fund generation.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 16 July 2025.

The Prime Minister will launch the Civil Society Covenant – a new way of working that puts people at the heart of government.

• Charities, faith groups, social enterprises and impact investors recognised as essential partners in tackling the country’s biggest challenges and deliver on the Plan for Change
• Ministers and community leaders gather at a national summit to show how collaboration is already delivering – and will go further.

The Prime Minister will join community leaders, campaigners, and charities from across the UK to launch the Civil Society Covenant – a new approach that listens, learns and delivers alongside those on the frontline.

In his keynote speech, the Prime Minister will reflect on a promise made 18 months ago in opposition: to work in genuine partnership with civil society in the national interest. Since taking office, that promise has become reality – resetting the relationship between government and the people working every day to make their communities stronger.

At its core, the Covenant is about delivering real change for working people – strengthening public services, creating safe communities, and providing new opportunities for communities to thrive. It gives civil society a home at the heart of government and recognises that national renewal can’t be delivered from Westminster alone.

The summit brings together leaders from charities, faith organisations, philanthropists, social investors and grassroots groups to focus on the UK’s most urgent issues – from healthcare access to tackling violence against women and girls. These are challenges that disproportionately affect working families, and the Covenant ensures their voices are heard and their needs are met.

It will show how civil society leadership, backed by government support, is already delivering results. As seen by:

• Tackling domestic abuse: The Drive Project, a third-sector initiative, has seen percentages of perpetrators using physical abuse cut by 82%. The government is investing £53 million to expand the programme across England and Wales, working to tackle the behaviour of perpetrators and protect victims.
• Supporting vulnerable children and families: Newly launched £500 million Better Futures Fund will support up to 200,000 children and families through early intervention. This is being matched by local and philanthropic investment.
• Transparent immigration: Over 10 million people have transitioned to a digital immigration status, supported by 72 local organisations helping vulnerable communities. This system strengthens border security, reduces fraud, and ensures only those with the right to be here can access services.
• Building the workforce we need: A new Labour Market Evidence Group is helping reduce reliance on overseas recruitment by boosting domestic skills and training.

This is about rebalancing power and responsibility,” the Prime Minister will say.

Not the top-down approach of the state working alone. Not the transactional approach of markets left to their own devices. But a new way forward – where government and civil society work side by side to deliver real change.

The Civil Society Covenant has been shaped by over 1,200 organisations since it was first announced in October 2024. From national charities, trade unions and local campaigners, it sets out how government and communities will work together to deliver lasting change.

Ahead of speaking at the Summit later today, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

The Civil Society Covenant is about delivering real results for working people. It marks a shift from a government that kept civil society at arm’s length to one that actively partners with it, on equal footing.

Our charities, volunteers, and social enterprises are embedded in the communities they serve and trusted by the people they support. That makes them the perfect partners for shaping the change we need.

By working together, we’ll improve public services, make them more responsive and rooted in local needs, and ensure that every community benefits as part of our Plan for Change.

The summit will spotlight how this partnership works in practice. Following the Prime Minister’s keynote, mission-led sessions will include:

• Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding, and Alex Davies-Jones, Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, chairing a Safer Streets panel with campaigners.
• Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, outlining how civil society will support the Opportunity Mission.
• Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, talking about how a mission-driven government can work in partnership with impact investors and philanthropists
• They will be joined by civil society leaders delivering change across the country, in areas such as early years support, health and violence against women and girls.

The Covenant will play a key role in delivering the government’s Plan for Change—supporting the opportunity mission by breaking down barriers for young people, helping to build an NHS fit for the future, and ensuring that no community is left behind.

As part of the Summit, the government will also announce:

• A new Joint Civil Society Covenant Council to drive delivery. The Joint Council will set direction and provide strategic oversight for implementation of the Covenant. It will have cross-sector membership comprising senior leaders from civil society and senior representatives from government departments to provide a key forum for driving progress in the reset of the relationship between government and civil society.
• A Local Covenant Partnerships programme to support collaboration between civil society, councils and public services in communities that need it most.

ENDS

Additional quotes:

Sarah Elliott & Jane Ide, CEO’s of National Council for Voluntary Organisations & Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations on behalf of the Civil Society Advisory Group said:

The challenges our country face can only be tackled by working together. The launch of the Civil Society Covenant is a key step forward in building a more collaborative and sustainable relationship between civil society and the UK government, while recognising our sector’s independence. Real and lasting change requires a partnership that is equal, honest and fair, with an intention to put lived experience at the heart of policy decision making.

The Civil Society Covenant sets out solid principles for how we work together. Now the test is putting them into practice, both nationally and locally. As organisations rooted in communities across the UK, we’ll hold ourselves and the government accountable, speaking up on behalf of the people and communities we represent and working together to ensure meaningful and lasting impact.

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations Chief Executive Anna Fowlie, said:

SCVO welcomes the publication of the UK Government’s Civil Society Covenant, which recognises the independence of, and the vital role played by, voluntary organisations in our communities, society, and democracy.

Today is a starting point. The words on the page must now be made real—and that requires sustained effort, open dialogue, and, crucially, a genuine commitment to a partnership of equals.

We welcome the Covenant’s recognition of the different contexts in which the voluntary sector operates across the UK—and, importantly, its commitment to respect and complement these.

Wales Council for Voluntary Action, Chief Executive Lindsay Cordery-Bruce said:

We welcome the Civil Society Covenant as a first step towards building a stronger, more respectful relationship between civil society and UK Government.

We’re pleased to have been part of shaping this new approach, and welcome its alignment with the strong partnership structures we already have in place in Wales. The real test will now be in its implementation.

We look forward to working together to ensure the Covenant is embedded in day-to-day practice and delivers meaningful improvements in how government and the sector work in partnership across the UK.

Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, Celine McStravick said:

We warmly welcome the launch of the Civil Society Covenant as an important step in recognising the vital role civil society plays across the UK. In a devolved context like Northern Ireland, where community voices are central to local progress and peacebuilding, this commitment to partnership is especially significant.

We look forward to ensuring the Covenant is embedded alongside our own partnership structures in Northern Ireland, and supports communities here to thrive.

Notes to editors:

• More information will be available at the Civil Society Covenant Hub on GOV.UK.
• The summit is supported by Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales and Pro Bono Economics. More information will be available at the Civil Society Covenant Hub on GOV.UK.
• The Covenant is intended to complement and respect existing governance and partnership arrangements in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, working alongside the distinct frameworks in each nation. The UK government will continue to work in partnership with civil society organisations in all four parts of the UK.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 July 2025.

Vulnerable young people who are at risk of being drawn into gangs, violence or knife crime will be given the help they need when the first Young Futures Hubs get up and running later this year.

Vulnerable young people who are at risk of being drawn into gangs, violence or knife crime will be given the help they need when the first Young Futures Hubs get up and running later this year.

Sitting at the heart of the Government’s Plan for Change, these hubs will help create opportunity for all and keep our streets safe. They will bring together vital local services in the local community, providing support ranging from well-being and mental health to careers advice.

The hubs will help all teenagers thrive, in particular, those who face being dragged into criminal gangs or young people at risk of mental health challenges.

Backed by a £2m cash injection eight hubs will launch this year, targeted in areas with high levels of knife crime and antisocial behaviour and offer a lifeline to vulnerable young people. It is expected that 50 Young Future Hubs will be launched over the next four years.

The Prime Minister set out these plans while attending a summit hosted by His Majesty The King at St James’s Palace and attended by Idris Elba OBE to discuss youth opportunity. Members of the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, set up at Downing Street last year, also attended the event.

The event was an opportunity to discuss what more must be done to offer community-led support to young people, in particular those who are vulnerable, stopping them from taking the wrong path.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“My government was elected on a pledge to tackle knife crime, and we have hit the ground running by banning dangerous weapons and bringing in laws to clamp down on illegal online sales.

“We are determined to do more to prevent vulnerable young people from turning to violence in the first place and open greater opportunities. As part of the Plan for Change, we will open up Young Futures Hubs across to country to stop teenagers from being dragged into crime and find a better future.”

To make sure young people get the help they need, before getting caught up in criminal activity, the Government will also pilot new multi-agency Prevention Partnership Panels to proactively identify and refer vulnerable teenagers – who may currently be falling through the net – to a range of different support services much earlier, including the Young Futures Hubs. More than twenty panels will be up and running in the coming months, across the areas of the country that collectively account for more than 80% knife crime, with many more to follow.

This is the latest measure taken by the government to cut knife crime and keep our streets safe, part of its Plan for Change.

Since coming into office last year, the Government has brought forward the strongest controls on dangerous knives, implementing bans on zombie-style knives and ninja swords and announced plans to toughen up online sales, including sanctions for tech executives who fail to remove illegal knife crime content from their platforms.

In September, the Prime Minister also launched the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, bringing together campaign groups, families of people who have tragically lost their lives to knife crime, young people who have been impacted and community leaders.

The Prime Minister will reconvene this group later in the year to update on the progress the Government has made during its first year in office.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper:

“Knife crime devastates families and communities across the country, and too many young lives have already been lost. That’s why we’ve set out an unprecedented mission to halve knife crime in a decade and why we are working tirelessly with our coalition to tackle the scourge of serious violence on our streets.

“We are bringing in some of the toughest measures to date, curbing access to weapons being sold online and getting them off the streets, but we also need to make sure that the right prevention structures are in place to stop young people being drawn into violent crime in the first place.

“Today’s Youth Opportunities Summit is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when government, communities, and campaigners come together with a shared purpose.”

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

“Too many young people are being let down – left without the support they need when they should be building bright futures. Young Futures Hubs will help change that, providing mental health support, mentoring, careers guidance, and activities that help young people thrive, ensuring no one is left behind.

“This is our Plan for Change in action – clearing barriers to opportunity while creating safer streets. With our National Youth Strategy coming later this year, we’re putting young people back in the driving seat of their own futures, offering the support they deserve with the opportunities they need.”

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 14 July 2025.

The Prime Minister welcomed the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, to Downing Street this afternoon.

The leaders began by reflecting on the close relationship between the two countries, including across defence, trade and energy security.

Both agreed that there were plenty of opportunities to be even more ambitious, which was emphasised by the signing of a civil nuclear memorandum of understanding today.

The agreement would allow both countries to harness the potential of nuclear power and the related technology to drive prosperity, energy security and highly skilled jobs, the leaders agreed.

The Prime Minister also thanked Prime Minister Fiala for the Czech Republic’s strong support for Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression, and the leaders reflected on the strength of solidarity for Ukraine through the Coalition of the Willing.

Both looked forward to speaking again soon.