EU warns that Boris Johnson ‘faces challenging times’, Trump congratulates Johnson
5522 Mins Read
Incoming UK PM Boris Johnson faces “challenging” times, the EU has warned, as it reacted to his election as new Conservative leader.
The European Commission’s newly elected President, Ursula von der Leyen, has however said she is willing to grant the UK another extension to Brexit talks, if London comes up with good reasons.
Congratulating Johnson, von der Leyen said: “There are many different and difficult topics to tackle together. There are challenging times ahead of us. I think it is very important to build up a strong and a good working relation because we have the duty to deliver something that is good for people in Europe and in the United Kingdom.”
Johnson has the immediate task of guiding the UK out of the EU ahead of a 31 October deadline.
He says he wants to renegotiate an agreement with the EU, ditching large parts of the deal outgoing PM Theresa May struck last year.
But EU leaders have said the withdrawal agreement is not up for renegotiation.
US President Donald Trump meanwhile congratulated Johnson on his victory. In a tweet, Trump said that Johnson will be a great Prime Minister.
Congratulations to Boris Johnson on becoming the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He will be great!
Later, he said: “We have a really good man is going to be the prime minister of the UK now, Boris Johnson. A good man. He’s tough and he’s smart. They’re saying ‘Britain Trump’. They call him ‘Britain Trump’ and people are saying that’s a good thing. They like me over there.
“That’s what they wanted. That’s what they need… He’ll get it done. Boris is good. He’s going to do a good job.”
