Germany's likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, says he welcomes UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's recent efforts to coordinate security and foreign policy with European partners. "I very much welcome the fact that Keir Starmer is coordinating closely with the Europeans, despite the fact that they are no longer members of the European Union and are very committed and very active in Europe's foreign and security policy", Merz tells a press conference in Berlin. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES