The planned comprehensive bilateral agreement between Germany and the UK will not be ratified as scheduled due to the collapse of the “traffic light” coalition in Berlin.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his German counterpart Olaf Scholz announced plans for the historic bilateral treaty—the first of its kind between the two nations—during Starmer’s visit to Berlin in August.
Although negotiations progressed rapidly, the agreement, initially expected to be finalized by January, now faces delays following the announcement of early elections in Germany.
“In view of the upcoming early elections to the German Bundestag, it is unlikely that the agreement will be ratified in the current legislative period,” the German government stated.
The ‘discontinuity principle’ halts progress
A week after the coalition collapsed amid internal political struggles, Scholz called for snap elections scheduled for February. With the SPD trailing behind the opposition CDU in polls, Scholz’s re-election appears uncertain, raising questions about the treaty’s future.
SPD foreign policy spokesman Nils Schmid previously told Euractiv that negotiations were set to conclude in January. This timeline aligned with the Bundestag’s schedule, allowing for ratification before the summer recess.
However, the German government clarified that the unfinished treaty would be subject to the “principle of discontinuity”. Under this rule, any bill not adopted during a legislative period is shelved and must be redrafted for reconsideration.
Negotiations cancelled
According to Euractiv, the ongoing negotiations have now been cancelled. The next German government will determine whether to resume talks and what the agreement’s content should include.
The agreement has been compared to the Treaty of Aachen (2019), which enhanced Franco-German relations by institutionalizing cooperation, including the creation of a joint parliamentary assembly.
Schmid noted that similar initiatives, such as regular meetings between parliamentary committees, were envisioned in the UK-Germany agreement.
London optimistic about progress
The UK government expressed satisfaction with the rapid pace of negotiations before the snap elections disrupted the timeline.
These negotiations, described as proceeding at an “unprecedented pace”, aimed to deliver practical benefits for citizens and a mutual focus on economic growth.
Germany had previously signed its first defense cooperation agreement with the UK under the Starmer government, reflecting deepening ties between the two nations.
While bilateral treaties typically take years to finalize, this agreement was on track to be concluded “within months”, according to UK officials.
