As Brexit negotiations head into a new, crucial stage, the man coordinating them on behalf of the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt, tells Euronews' Darren McCaffrey he remains "optimistic" of as positive a result as possible.

A self-confessed optimist, Verhofstadt believes that while the EU customs union must not be compromised, there are positives to the so-called 'Chequers' plan, Theresa May's blueprint for future EU-UK relations.

Again seeing the silver lining, the UK's withdrawal, he says, has had the positive effect of highlighting the benefits of EU membership.