Mr Tony Blair is to announce the formation of an inner group of ministers to prepare Britain for possible membership of the euro, it has been reported today.
The Financial Timessays the European Strategy Committee - chaired by the British prime minister - is to meet regularly to co-ordinate the pro-European effort across Whitehall.
Its task is to drive the reforms needed to pass the Government's five economic tests for euro membership, including reform of the housing market and the development for regional pay bargaining, the FTsays.
The membership of the committee is said to include Chancellor Gordon Brown, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Leader of the Commons Peter Hain, Constitutional Affairs Secretary Lord Falconer, and Work and Pensions Secretary Andrew Smith.