Boris Johnson should reconsider his refusal to extend the 11-month timeframe available for agreeing a deal on the future relationship with the EU after Brexit, Ursula von der Leyen has suggested. The European commission president said she had “serious concern” over the limited time available for the negotiations and emphasised the need to keep all options open. “It’s not only about negotiating a free trade deal but many other subjects,” Von der Leyen said in an interview with the French newspaper les Echos. Von der Leyen, a former German defence minister, said the risks for both sides meant an extension of the transition period could not be ruled out. A government spokesperson said: “The prime minister has been clear that we will not be extending the implementation period.

Source: The Guardian December 27, 2019 09:55 UTC