The Prime Minister is taking his bid to lead a reformed Europe to the Netherlands on his first official visit to the continent since the UK took over the EU Presidency.

In a packed schedule that includes meetings with Queen Beatrix and Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok, Mr Blair will set out his Government's agenda in Europe during the six-month presidency which started at the beginning of January.

Tony Blair wants reform

His speech in The Hague will convey a "pro-European but pro-reform" message to EU partners, outlining what he sees as the challenges ahead.

The ideas behind the speech were flagged up in an article written for Reuter on Monday night in which he said: "For too long, Europe has been a dirty word in Britain and Britain has been a dirty word in Europe. All that is changing."

Pushing for change is also on the British Prime Minister's agenda.

He will argue that enlargement and the single currency are the two major issues before the EU and should be given top priority.

"Economic and Monetary Union is a Europe-wide project of huge political and economic significance. We support it. We want to see it succeed." Mr Blair said in the article.

But he warned that Britain would want to weigh carefully the economic and political considerations of EMU participation.

"We will not be in the first wave of the single currency. But unlike our predecessors, we see no constitutional barrier to joining. And any decision will be taken on economic grounds rather than political prejudice," he said.

Other reforms to be raised by Mr Blair include a push to overhaul the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy.

He will also reiterate his recent criticisms of Europe's "poor" jobs record.

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