LABOUR has launched its agenda for the Presidency of the European Union with a promise that it will be good for areas like East Lancs.

The theme of the six-month Presidency, beginning in January, is bringing the European Union closer to the people.

Cabinet Office Minister Peter Kilfoyle told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph that the forthcoming international conference on soccer hooliganism in Blackburn was a perfect example of what the Government hoped to achieve.

Organised by Home Secretary Jack Straw, it will be held at Ewood Park in early spring with the aim of combatting soccer hooliganism at next year's World Cup.

"We have to ensure that in the course of the Presidency we bring as many things down to ordinary people as possible," said Mr Kilfoyle, who was publicising the Government's plans in the North West.

"We are having this football conference at Ewood and that's very relevant to a lot of ordinary people. This is not just about fine words." The Government, and in particular Home Secretary Jack Straw, will also be using its power to ensure common, Europe-wide action on crime and the environment.

Mr Kilfoyle stressed the vital importance of the European Union to prosperity in East Lancashire.

"We are talking about a market of 370 million. With all those people we need to ensure that the EU does not become remote from ordinary lives."

He added that the Government would be seeking to maintain European money like Objective 2 status for areas like East Lancashire.

But he admitted that the pressure from more countries joining the Union could cause problems.

"We have to strike a fine balance between the wider market, international stability and the interests of specific regions of the UK," he said.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.