During Ms von der Leyen’s speech at the London School of Economics yesterday, she emphasised the importance of prioritising key aspects of the EU’s relationship with the UK after the end of the year, saying without an extension of the transition period, it would not be possible to agree everything. The event was entitled Old friends, new beginnings: building another future for the EU-UK partnership – and speaking immediately afterwards, Professor Tony Travers, director of LSE London, told Express.co.uk it had been clear Ms von der Leyen was keen to look beyond Brexit as she seeks to make a mark during her tenure.

He told Express.co.uk: “The EU has a whole range of problems and Brexit is just one on a list.

“There are still problems with the Euro and the Eurozone which will never go away.

“Growth in Europe is terribly slow – despite Brexit UK growth is no different to the Eurozone’s, despite all the uncertainty in the three-and-and-a-half years.”

In a reference to Hungary and Poland, both of whom are facing sanctions under the EU’s Article 7 over controversial legal reforms, Prof Travers said: “There are a whole range of problems – they have got slightly rogue members, members who are not actually behaving in ways that proper democracies are expected to.

“So against that backdrop, Brexit is on a list of big issues but it is by no means the only one.

“It’s true that losing the UK’s money will make their budget a bit more difficult though in fairness less money will go out as well.

“The net flow of money between the UK paid into the EU minus what the EU paid back to the UK is smaller than the gross sum.

“But in the end they do need to make back the money and that won’t be popular.

“But they are just going to get over it, they are going to have to do it, it’s going to happen.”

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Highlighting the reason for the Prime Minister’s determination to get everything sealed by December 31, Prof Travers said: “I don’t think Boris Johnson is going to want to pay another year’s subscription to the EU.

“More than any other reasons here, he will aiming for December 31 being the end of the transition process.

“Up to then we still go on paying, thereafter there are no additional payments.

“I think some of the payments carry on but what it will mean is there will no further extra payments if the UK leaves on December 31.”

Speaking at the event, Ms von der Leyen, who studied at the LSE, warned: “The more divergence there is, the more distant the partnership has to be.

“And without an extension of the transition period beyond 2020, you cannot expect to agree on every single aspect of our new partnership. We will have to prioritise.”

Nevertheless, she added: “I know the last few years have been difficult and divisive. I hope that by being constructive and ambitious in the upcoming negotiations, we can all move forward together.

“There will be tough talks ahead and each side will do what is best for them.

“But I can assure you that the United Kingdom will always have a trusted friend and partner in the European Union.”

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