Britain's decision to make a clean break from the EU was an opportunity to reform Europe and avoid a further breakdown in ties between its remaining member states,the European Union Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator said on Monday.

Guy Verhofstadt, former Belgian Prime Minister and member of the European Parliament, also said the election of US President Donald Trump, and what he views as Washington's move toward more protectionism, was a wake-up call for the EU.

"The Brexit discussion is a good opportunity not only to discuss and negotiate a new agreement, a new partnership with Britain, but also to fix that now it is time to have a real government in Europe," Mr Verhofstadt said in an interview in New York while promoting his new book: "Europe's Last Chance."