Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation Treaty: The 17 Projects the UK and Germany will deliver together
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-16)

A collection of projects agreed between the UK and Germany as part of the Treaty signed by the two countries on 17 July 2025 in London.

In July 2025 the UK and Germany signed the Treaty on Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/treaty-between-the-united-kingdom-of-great-britain-and-northern-ireland-and-the-federal-republic-of-germany-on-friendship-and-bilateral-cooperation). As part of the Implementation Plan under Article 22 of the Treaty, they agreed to deliver 17 priority projects. These projects span the breadth of the Treaty, enhancing cooperation in the face of global challenges, and delivering tangible benefits for UK and German citizens. The projects will be reviewed by a Joint Cabinet every two years.

1. Ukraine Recovery & Reconstruction

The UK-Germany Alliance will power Ukraine’s recovery: driving reform, reconstruction and resilience together.
- Strengthening coordination and strategic alignment between the UK and Germany on Ukraine reform, recovery and reconstruction support.
- Championing annual Ukraine Recovery Conferences, improving joint action between humanitarian, development and peace actors and strengthening donor engagement with Ukrainian civil society.
2. Trinity House Defence Agreement

The UK and Germany commit to building a much deeper Defence partnership which will endure in the long-term and enable both countries to address threats, and strengthen NATO, through the framework agreed in the 2024 Trinity House Agreement on Defence co-operation.
- Deep Precision Strike and Defence: Advancing work to develop a new Deep Precision Strike capability to provide a conventional deterrent in Europe; we are jointly leading the 2.000 km+ cluster within the European Long Range Strike Approach (ELSA). It will be among the most advanced systems ever designed. We will aim to deliver a capability within a decade.
- Uncrewed Aerial Systems and Future Connectivity: Continuing ongoing UK-Germany coordination of the development, procurement, and doctrine of uncrewed aerial systems. Both Air Forces have developed a detailed „Flight Plan“ to increase their future connectivity.
- Strengthening Eastern Flank through new Land Strategic Partnership: Delivering a strategic partnership in land systems and continuing their close BOXER cooperation, including RCH 155 artillery and extending cooperation to common offboard systems for Future Ground Combat Systems. Both armies are building on their bilateral vision statement to drive this forward. A new Statement of Intent on bridging capabilities has been agreed.
- Undersea Co-operation in the Northern Seas: Working together to counter undersea threats. This includes training of German crews on UK P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft which will also be delivered to Germany shortly. Both sides have signed an agreement on joint procurement of new Sting Ray torpedoes under development for their aircraft.
3. Strengthening Defence Industrial and Export Co-operation

We will work jointly across Government to promote defence exports and champion greater co-operation between our defence industries.
- Widening our efforts to facilitate and promote dialogue with, and co-operation between, UK and German Defence Industries by further developing the UK-Germany Defence Industry Forum, as per the first meeting in June, reflecting our commitment to a new partnership with industry. This will drive innovation and business-business links to enhance growth.
- Seeking opportunities to support one another’s defence capability requirements, including through developing future joint procurement initiatives where our requirements align.
- Deepening efforts to promote our growth and security by pursuing joint export campaigns for jointly produced equipment, building on the UK’s imminent accession to the Germany-France-Spain Treaty on arms export controls.
4. Joint Action Plan on Irregular Migration

We will implement the comprehensive Joint Action Plan on Migration to step-up action against people smuggling and illegal migration.
- Increasing cooperation against migrant smuggling, strengthening law enforcement and judicial cooperation, stepping-up efforts on returns, providing regional leadership and deterring irregular migration to Germany and the UK.
- Germany is introducing a clarification in German legislation concerning the facilitation of irregular migration to the UK (to be brought to Cabinet with a view to be adopted by Parliament as soon as possible, within 2025).
- This will establish an even stronger framework for law enforcement, policy and prosecutorial cooperation against organised crime groups smuggling and trafficking people. Aligning as regional leaders on irregular migration in forums such as the Calais Group and Berlin Process, developing joint approaches to key upstream routes.
- Continuing to support one another to be innovative in managing our migration systems and delivering secure borders.
5. Strategic Science and Technology Partnership

We will together develop cutting-edge critical technologies - such as quantum, AI and digital, semiconductors, space capabilities, advanced connectivity, fusion and sustainable energy solutions including battery technologies – to drive long-term economic growth, by:
- Conducting high-impact research, accelerating adoption of transformative technologies, enhancing supply chain resilience and contributing to an open and innovative business environment.
- Exploring AI cooperation initiatives, enhancing UK-German innovation leadership, fostering further collaboration to accelerate breakthrough innovation, establishing a strategic space partnership, strengthening collaboration on semiconductors and facilitating closer cooperation between our two nations’ battery eco-systems.
6. North Sea Energy Infrastructure Project

We will work together to develop North Seas energy infrastructure – supporting economic growth and reducing bills through trade and infrastructure development.
- Driving the development of offshore hybrid interconnection between the UK and Germany by the mid-2030s, including through exploring a Joint Declaration of Intent on Offshore Hybrid Assets for agreement at the North Sea Summit in January 2026.
- Working together to accelerate the development of H2- and CO2-infrastructures.
7. Joint taskforce on a new rail link between UK and Germany

We will pave the way for a new direct rail connection between the UK and Germany.
- Establishing formal cooperation between the two governments to address the barriers to establishing direct rail services between London and Germany within the next ten years.
- Creating a task force, including Transport and Interior Ministries, to explore establishing juxtaposed controls.
8. E-gates

We will streamline leisure, educational, and business travel to Germany.
- Rolling out the first phase of e-gates access for frequent travellers by the end of August, followed by roll out for all UK nationals as soon as technically possible.
9. School trips and mobility of citizens

We will make it easier for school groups to travel between the UK and Germany and consider ways to further enhance mobility between our people.
- Delivering visa-free school group travel between the UK and Germany, increasing opportunities for linguistic, cultural and academic experiences. Rolling out the new scheme by the end of 2025.
- Appointing a Joint Expert Group from across both governments to identify mutually agreeable solutions to UK and German mobility issues, including challenges faced by educational and scientific institutions, cultural bodies and political organisations.
10. Business-Government Forum

We will bring together German and UK businesses to exchange on business opportunities and to explore joint projects in order to drive growth, enabling our governments to draw upon the expertise and insights of our vibrant business communities.
- Bringing together key stakeholders from Germany and the UK in this Forum to promote cooperation between German and UK companies and to identify areas of high growth potential in which UK-German cooperation will benefit the two economies.
- This will be complemented by opportunities for direct exchange between senior business leaders and Ministers from both countries.
11. Strategic conflict prevention and stabilisation partnership

We will develop our global partnership to prevent conflict and build lasting peace.
- Collaborating across international conflict prevention and resolution initiatives, including countering violent extremism; supporting security sector reform and working together to widen our engagement.
- Sharing situational awareness, early warning, crisis data; collaborating on use of AI; and strengthening our commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
12. Western Balkans stability and security

The UK will host the German-born Berlin Process, bringing leaders of the six Western Balkans countries and other European states together to support stability, security and economic co-operation in the region.
- Strengthening coordination between the UK and Germany to support long-term regional and broader European security
- Driving joint initiatives under the Berlin Process and seeking tangible progress for the Western Balkans Six on their Euro-Atlantic paths.
13. Indo-Pacific cooperation

The UK and Germany commit to increased and sustained cooperation on the Indo-Pacific.
- Strengthening coordination on regional and maritime security, share best practice on geo-economic affairs and secure growth, and strategically align efforts on climate change mitigation and adaptation in the Indo-Pacific.
- This will include coordination between UK and Germany on initiatives across the Indo-Pacific cooperation workstream.
14. Biosecurity Cooperation

We will strengthen our capability to protect our nations and our interests from biological threats.
- Exchanging information on the development of national biosecurity strategies, bolstering critical infrastructure (e.g. in health care), improving preparedness to state terrorism with biological agents, and preparing for new and re-emerging, highly pathogenic pathogens.
- Establishing joint exercises and an emergency support system between the UK and Germany.
15. Strategic sustainable development partnership

We will deliver impact together on all aspects of sustainable development including growth and jobs, health and climate.
- Building alliances to advance the 2030 Agenda, and reform international systems. Coordinating on global financial institutions, private sector mobilisation, climate and debt solutions, sustainable infrastructure, and climate resilient and inclusive growth.
- Holding an annual Development Dialogue setting the strategic direction for our collaboration on development, focusing on shared expertise, new ideas and innovative tools to tackle key challenges and support Global South partners.
16. Education, Culture, Sport

We will boost opportunity and growth by putting young people and social mobility at the heart of a new era of educational, cultural and sporting cooperation.
- Driving more school exchanges, focusing on lower socio-economic groups, creating new initiatives, delivered through existing mobility pathways, such as the first UK-German Creative Industries Prize and inaugural Youth Summit.
- Delivering a revitalised UK-German Cultural & Education Commission, led by UK and German ministers, to identify and deliver new people-to-people initiatives, with a focus on driving opportunity for all.
17. KfW/UK Public Financial Institutions collaboration

Cooperation between our Public Financial Institutions will accelerate the investment needed to boost growth in our economies.
- Deepening links between the British Business Bank, National Wealth Fund, and British International Investment) and Germany’s KfW to help mobilise private capital, develop well-functioning and sustainable markets
- Sharing insights & best practice, enhancing operational/financial performance, seizing investment opportunities in areas of mutual interest, and exploring further opportunities to deepen cooperation.