On 5 December 2020, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, gave at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, a press statement following the conference call with Boris Johndon, British Prime Minister, on the ongoing negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom.

On this occasion, Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the fact that progress has been achieved in many areas. She added that, nevertheless, significant differences remain on three critical issues: level playing field, governance and fisheries.