European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in London next Wednesday, three weeks before the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.
An EU spokesperson said the President of the European Commission would meet Johnson for the first time since she took office. She will also give a speech at the London School of Economics.
A Johnson spokesperson confirmed the meeting: “There is a bilateral meeting on Downing Street this Wednesday.”
The British want to leave the EU on January 31. Little will change in the transition period until the end of 2020.
During that period, which Johnson does not want to extend, an agreement must be reached about the future (trade) relationship.
Von der Leyen called it early in December “very challenging” to be able to close a deal in that time frame. If it doesn’t work out, then a chaotic Brexit threatens.