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Speaking at a joint press conference with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, the Brexit coordinator claimed he will always "regret" the UK's decision to leave the EU. Mr Verhofstadt said he hoped one day the UK will return to the EU family. He then congratulated Michel Barnier for making the best out of a "very difficult situation".

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He said: “I want to start by saying that we still really regret Brexit because the fact that an important big nation as the UK is leaving the European Union is still a wound today.

“I still hope, personally, that it comes one day when the UK will come back to the European family.

“But what we have tried to do with Michel Barnier is to make the best of a very difficult situation after the Brexit decision and I would like to congratulate and to underline the intense cooperation with Michel Barnier who has done a tremendous job.

“And it’s true that we have seen each other on a weekly basis to make progress in this.”