The Brexit negotiatior for the European Parliament said on Thursday that the UK deciding to leave the European Union had caused a renewal of interest in the European project.

Speaking at an event at the London School of Economics, Guy Verhofstadt said that the EU had gained popularity since the UK's referendum last year.

In a wide ranging speech on Brexit, Verhofstadt also put forward a vision of an ever closer union of remaining European Union states including the chance to elect politicians at a European level, as opposed to just nationally.

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AGENCY POOL

London - 28 August 2017

1. Brexit negotiatior for the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt, walking to lectern

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Guy Verhofstadt, Brexit negotiatior for the European Parliament

"I have to tell you that I also know why Theresa May gave her speech in Florence. I presume that I know it. I think she chose Florence because Florentine politics in the 15th Century made her feel at home I think. You know, backstabbing, betrayal, noble families fighting for power and so, and so on, so I think that this is an environment that she recognised very well."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Guy Verhofstadt, Brexit negotiatior for the European Parliament

"At the very beginning she referred to the renaissance as a period of history that defined what it meant to be European. Well that's exactly what the European Union is all about. The European Union, ladies and gentlemen is far more than a peace process after the Second World War, far more than the Franco-German reconciliation alone. The European Union is all about civilisation. It's in fact the political translation of that civilisation, of that European common culture and values. That is what this European Union is about."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Guy Verhofstadt, Brexit negotiatior for the European Parliament

"So criticising people for wanting to keep their European identity, accusing them of split allegiance is binary, is old fashioned. I think it's reductionist view on identity. I think it's perfectly possible but I look to the Mayor (of London, Sadiq Khan, in the audience), who has more experience, to be a Londoner, English, British, and European at the same time and there is no contradiction and that has nothing to do with split allegiance. So my message at the beginning of my intervention - watch out, beware of politicians who want to define your identity. The only reason they do so is to categorise people. To reduce you to your nationality, your ethnicity your religion and, split allegiance are two words that belong to the langauge of states that are in my opinion totalitarian, and not of democracies, not of democracies like Britain. In all democracies, people they find their own allegiance, define themselves how British, how European they feel and not the minister of foreign affairs, if I may say so (in reference to UK Foreign Minister Boris Johnson)."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Guy Verhofstadt, Brexit negotiatior for the European Parliament

"I have to tell you very honestly, and I've said this already a few times but i want to repeat it here in London, but I continue to believe that Brexit is a very negative project, that it is in fact a waste of time and energy. The destruction of a strong political bond that made people on both sides of the channel richer freer than ever before. But we are democrats. We have to respect the outcome of the referendum. And more over we have to implement it and that is exactly what Europe will do and also will establish a new relationship, a new relationship between the European Union and the UK that hopefully will be beneficial for everybody, for both. And if you ask me the question, is there really, really, really, nothing positive you can say about Brexit, well I can say yes, there is something positive. It has opened people's eyes on the continent."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Guy Verhofstadt, Brexit negotiatior for the European Parliament

"There has been a fundamental shift in the thinking about Europe, in the heads of a number of people and leaders in Europe. And that is not to look anymore to Europe and the European Union as a bunch of nation-states, but as a genuine political community, as a democracy on a continental scale, and two proposals that I already defended a number of years ago but nobody believed to be realistic - they were dreams that would never realise themselves - are proof of that. The first proposal is the call, we have seen that I hope, for transnational list, the idea to turn the European Union into one big constituency and to give to all citizens in Europe two ballots - one to choose their own representative of their country in the parliament and the second one to elect a number of politicians on the European level, what in my opinion would make European politics more democratic and what will lift in fact this European democracy on a continental scale, what we absolutely need."

7. Verhofstadt being seated

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence strolled into the Brexit fury as he met with embattled British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Wrapping up a week in Europe, Pence thanked Johnson for the welcome "at a very busy time here in the United Kingdom."

Johnson downplayed the Brexit drama, saying it's "always busy."

Pence delivered greetings from President Donald Trump and said Trump has asked him to assure Johnson that the U.S. "supports the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union" and "is ready, willing and able to immediately negotiate a free trade agreement with the UK"

Johnson replied that was "fantastic."

He expressed hope for the removal of trade barriers on British products including lamb, beef and haggis, a Scottish delicacy made with the stomachs of sheep.

Johnson has been pushing for an early election as a way to break Britain's Brexit impasse, as lawmakers try to stop the UK from leaving the European Union next month without an exit deal in place.

AGENCY POOL

London - 5 September 2019

++QUALITY AS INCOMING++

1. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence walking into room UPSOUND (English) Johnson: "Vice President, have a seat. Thank you so much. Well it's fantastic to welcome you to No. 10 Mr Vice President, great to have you here. I had an absolutely wonderful time at the G7 and with President Trump talking about all the things that we were trying to do together, free trade, all that. And hope very much to take that forward today in our discussions.

Pence: Well Mr Prime Minister thank you for such a warm welcome.

Johnson: Absolutely, great to see you again.

Pence: I know it's a very busy time here in the United Kingdom.

Johnson: Always busy.

Pence: I'm grateful for your hospitality. I spoke to President Trump this morning, your friend and he asked me to send you his very best greetings and to assure you that the United States supports the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union, but he also wanted me to convey that the United States is ready, willing and able to immediately negotiate a free trade agreement with the UK.

Johnson: Fantastic.

Pence: The President often says that the United States has the biggest economy in the world and we truly believe that a free trade agreement between the United States and the UK could increase trade between our countries by three or four times. We're anxious to do that. We're anxious to stand with you and to do everything in our power to strengthen what has been a historic and special relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom. And it is embodied in the very warm and personal relationship that you have forged with President Trump, with myself and with our administration and I'm truly honoured to be here.

Johnson: Fantastic to have you here and we will drive that free trade agreement forward of course. The U.S. economy is a, is a wonderful, massive opportunity for the UK farmers but it is still the case that you know, the United States of America, the people of the United States of America do not eat any British lamb or beef or haggis from Scotland. I think there are still barriers to trade in shower trays, would you believe it, from the UK. So, and many other products where we think we could free up the U.S. market. I know that you guys are pretty tough negotiators. So. So we're going to work very hard to make sure that that free trade deal is one that works for all sides.

Pence: Well he (Trump) told me this morning, he said, he said, you tell my friend Prime Minister Boris Johnson, that we're ready to go to work on that free trade agreement, just as soon as you're ready. And again to make it clear to you that the United States supports the UK's decision to leave the EU and we're ready to build this economic relationship immediately.

Johnson: Fantastic and of course we won't be, ah, and we will be, make sure that we do everything to increase free trade but the National Health Service, is always worth saying for the benefit of the UK media here, the National Health Service is not on the table as far as negotiations go. And nor, we're not too keen on that chlorinated chicken either. We have a, we have a gigantic chlorinated chicken of our own here on the opposition benches. Anyway, I'm being asked to shut up. Thank you all very much for coming along today.

Pence: Thank you.

Johnson: Thank you."

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UK Prime Minister Theresa May held talks with her Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte, at 10 Downing Street in London on Wednesday.

Rutte said bilateral relations between the two countries are "fantastic", adding he hopes that will remain the case once the UK departs the European Union.

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AGENCY POOL

London - 21 February 2018

1. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte arriving at Downing Street for talks with UK Prime Minister Theresa May

++INTERIOR SHOT++

2. May and Rutte taking their seats, UPSOUND (English)

Theresa May, UK Prime Minister: "I'm delighted to welcome you to Number 10 Downing Street, and I'm really looking forward to the discussions that we're going to have on various issues. I'm sure we're going to be talking about Brexit, but also our relationship between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom and how we can build on that bilateral relationship for the future, and so it's really good to see you here."

Mark Rutte, Dutch Prime Minister: "Thank you so much for hosting us, for this lunch. As you said, there are so many things to discuss - yes multilateral issues. We are now on the Security Council, of course you are always on the Security Council so lots to discuss on that. Of course, Brexit and the bilateral relations are fantastic, but of course we want them to remain so also after Brexit, so lots to debate and discuss. And also our teams, I mean they're all good friends. It's also great to be back in London."

May: "Good to see you here. Thank you."

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence strolled into the Brexit fury as he met with embattled British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Wrapping up a week in Europe, Pence thanked Johnson for the welcome "at a very busy time here in the United Kingdom."

Johnson downplayed the Brexit drama, saying it's "always busy."

Pence delivered greetings from President Donald Trump and said Trump has asked him to assure Johnson that the U.S. "supports the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union" and "is ready, willing and able to immediately negotiate a free trade agreement with the UK"

Johnson replied that was "fantastic."

He expressed hope for the removal of trade barriers on British products including lamb, beef and haggis, a Scottish delicacy made with the stomachs of sheep.

Johnson has been pushing for an early election as a way to break Britain's Brexit impasse, as lawmakers try to stop the UK from leaving the European Union next month without an exit deal in place.

AGENCY POOL

London - 5 September 2019

++QUALITY AS INCOMING++

1. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence walking into room UPSOUND (English) Johnson: Vice President, have a seat. Thank you so much. Well it's fantastic to welcome you to No. 10 Mr Vice President, great to have you here. I had an absolutely wonderful time at the G7 and with President Trump talking about all the things that we were trying to do together, free trade, all that. And hope very much to take that forward today in our discussions.

Pence: Well Mr Prime Minister thank you for such a warm welcome.

Johnson: Absolutely, great to see you again.

Pence: I know it's a very busy time here in the United Kingdom.

Johnson: Always busy.

Pence: I'm grateful for your hospitality. I spoke to President Trump this morning, your friend and he asked me to send you his very best greetings and to assure you that the United States supports the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union, but he also wanted me to convey that the United States is ready, willing and able to immediately negotiate a free trade agreement with the UK.

Johnson: Fantastic.

Pence: The President often says that the United States has the biggest economy in the world and we truly believe that a free trade agreement between the United States and the UK could increase trade between our countries by three or four times. We're anxious to do that. We're anxious to stand with you and to do everything in our power to strengthen what has been a historic and special relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom. And it is embodied in the very warm and personal relationship that you have forged with President Trump, with myself and with our administration and I'm truly honoured to be here.

Johnson: Fantastic to have you here and we will drive that free trade agreement forward of course. The U.S. economy is a, is a wonderful, massive opportunity for the UK farmers but it is still the case that you know, the United States of America, the people of the United States of America do not eat any British lamb or beef or haggis from Scotland. I think there are still barriers to trade in shower trays, would you believe it, from the UK. So, and many other products where we think we could free up the U.S. market. I know that you guys are pretty tough negotiators. So. So we're going to work very hard to make sure that that free trade deal is one that works for all sides.

Pence: Well he (Trump) told me this morning, he said, he said, you tell my friend Prime Minister Boris Johnson, that we're ready to go to work on that free trade agreement, just as soon as you're ready. And again to make it clear to you that the United States supports the UK's decision to leave the EU and we're ready to build this economic relationship immediately.

Johnson: Fantastic and of course we won't be, ah, and we will be, make sure that we do everything to increase free trade but the National Health Service, is always worth saying for the benefit of the UK media here, the National Health Service is not on the table as far as negotiations go. And nor, we're not too keen on that chlorinated chicken either. We have a, we have a gigantic chlorinated chicken of our own here on the opposition benches. Anyway, I'm being asked to shut up. Thank you all very much for coming along today.

Pence: Thank you.

Johnson: Thank you."

++ENDS ON UPSOUND++