The first so-called "Euro-11" council started deliberations in a chateau in the suburbs of Luxembourg and will focus on measures to keep budget deficits small and government debts falling in the countries that have signed up for the euro from the start of next year.

Frankfurt, home of the European Central Bank

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, opened the meeting, because Britain currently holds the EU's rotating presidency.

But because Britain will not join the single currency he had to leave after saying a few words of welcome and hand over the chair to the Austrian Finance Minister, Rudolf Edlinger.

Austria takes over the presidency from Britain on July 1.

Britain's exclusion from the talks has left the Chancellor open to criticism from Conservatives.

"This is a humiliating position," said Graham Mather, Conservative spokesman on European economics.

"The Labour government has proved incapable of negotiating effectively in the EU arena."

Mr Mather said it was "unprecedented for a member state to be so thoroughly sidelined in the EU while that nation holds the presidency. It will be a serious embarrassment for Britain's EU presidency."

He said Mr Brown would have to leave 11 EU colleagues discussing key economic issues.

The members of the Euro-11 group counter that argument with the question why Britain, Sweden and Denmark should have a say over the euro even though they have refused to join the single currency.

Euro-wrangle

EU leaders agreed in December to set up the council to tighten consultations between the 11 nations that will adopt the euro as their shared currency on January 1.

The decision was reached after months of wrangling among EU nations.

Britain, Sweden, Denmark and Greece tried to block the setting up of the council, fearing it would exclude them from key economic decisions.

Germany was concerned the council - first suggested by France - could be used to undermine the independence of the European Central Bank which is to run monetary policy after the switch to the euro.

Although the compromise which eventually set up the Euro-11 does not give it formal decision-making powers, France is expected to push for it to develop into an important forum for co-ordinating policies on taxation, budgets and other economic issues.

Gordon Brown wished the gathering well

France wants the council to become a political counterweight to the powerful board of the European Central Bank, based in Frankfurt, Germany.

Although left out of the main workings of the Euro-11, ministers from the other EU nations will be invited to attend some sessions.

Gordon Brown is due to chair a full session of the 15 EU finance ministers in Luxembourg on Friday which has been scheduled to prepare economic issues on the agenda of the June 15-16 EU summit in Cardiff, Wales.

Topics include plans to boost growth and job-creation after the launch of the euro, and the contentious issue of how much each nation should contribute to the EU's common budget as the Union plans to take on new members in eastern Europe.