At a reception in Berlin for the British Prime Minister, Andrew Burnham, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke of a historic moment in bilateral relations between the two countries. At the Federal Chancellery, the heads of government exchanged the ratification documents for the German-British friendship treaty – the so-called Kensington Treaty – thereby formalising its entry into force.

Young people stand to benefit in particular 

“This treaty opens up new opportunities for cooperation between the United Kingdom and Germany”, said Federal Chancellor Merz during the handover ceremony. Young people, in particular, stand to benefit from the agreement. It will make it easier for school pupils and students to take part in longer-term exchange programmes without needing a visa. At the same time, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasised the European dimension of the treaty: “We are doing this so that the younger generation can see, even in the bilateral relations between Germany – as part of the European Union – and the United Kingdom, just how well we Europeans work together and how much we truly belong together.”

The so-called Kensington Treaty is the German-British friendship treaty that was signed in London on 17 July 2025. Through this agreement, Germany and the United Kingdom are placing their relations on a new strategic footing. The focus is on closer cooperation in foreign, security and defence policy, the promotion of the economy, research and innovation, and the strengthening of ties between the citizens of both countries. Federal Chancellor Merz describes German-British relations as one of Europe’s most important bilateral partnerships. The exchange of the treaty documents took place on 8 October 2026. 

Read the transcript of the statement here (in German only):