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Half-term report for EU presidency

The government intends to highlight 45 achievements it claims to have made since taking over the presidency on January 1.

Because it is not participating in Europe's biggest project - the Single Currency, Britain was thought to be handicapped in offering leadership.

But by making jobs, crime, the environment and European enlargement their priorities, ministers believe they have injected a new practicality into the EU.

With Britain's focus on job creation, other states too are now producing employment action plans.

Directives pushed through the European councils so far will result in cheaper cars, lower telephone bills, and the chance for British firms to sell mobile phones across Europe, says the government.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to argue that Britain's time in the chair is making a real practical difference to people's lives.

He will also say the presidency has shown Britain the good side of Europe, and Europe the good side of Britain.

Following action on issues from driftnet fishing to improving zoos, the government's private polling is showing improvements of up to 25 points in the popularity of the European Union in Britain.

In the half-way report, Tony Blair is expected to praise his Foreign Secretary Robin Cook for ensuring that Europe has acted with a common purpose over situations like Kosovo and terrorist murders in Algeria.

Meanwhile the six front-runner states bidding to join the European Union will present their cases to the members on Tuesday.

British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said Tuesday's schedule called for "the largest number of intergovernmental conferences" the EU had staged in one day.

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