Tony Blair has come under increased pressure to set a date for the Euro referendum, after a survey of union members found the majority in favour of British entry.

Of the 2000 members of the Amicus trade union that were polled, just over half were in favour of the single European currency, while a larger majority believed British entry to the Eurozone would improve the state of the manufacturing sector.

"In order to put our manufacturing industry back on a competitive active footing within Europe we need to join the euro sooner rather than later," said joint general secretary Roger Lyons.

"Amicus members would vote for the euro. Let's get the debate started so we can act to save the UK's manufacturing industry by joining."

The survey follows the prime minister's New Year message, which sparked further speculation on the issue when he said: "This year we will face what may be the single most important decision that faces this political generation - the question of whether to join the euro," highlighting the successful introduction of notes and coins in the 12 member countries.

European MP Glenys Kinnock praised the euro's first year in circulation.

"One year on and the sky hasn't fallen on our heads, as the sceptics ensured us it would," she said.

"The euro is a thriving currency and the successful introduction of the notes and coins this year has been a real success for the EU, considering the logistics of the operation. Those who hide behind the fears of our sovereignty would do well to look to the eurozone and ask - are the French any less French? Are the Spanish any less Spanish? Of course not.

"Acccession countries joining in 2004 such as Malta are already making contingency plans for joining the eurozone. They can clearly recognise the need to be using the currency of the single market and can see just as clearly how our trade has fallen in comparison to eurozone contries over this year."

Pro-Euro UK politicians have also voiced their concerns over the lack of a formal date for the vote.

Former Europe minister, Keith Vaz, has called on the government to announce that the referendum would be held on September 14 - the same date as that held in Sweden - if the chancellor's five economic tests are met on June 7.

"What we need to do now is have a clear timetable as to what is going to happen after June," he said.

"We are either going to have a referendum or not and there is no reason why we should not be benchmarking certain dates when those decisions are going to be taken."

Labour's Lord Haskins claimed a lack of a vote this year would damage the government's credibility.

"I think [Blair] would have some difficulty in rejecting the economic logic of joining the currency by June. Compared with 1997...our economic cycle is very much in line with the rest of the European markets. It's much easier to satisfy the economic conditions now than it would have been four years ago," he said.

"Ducking it isn't the easy option. It is going to create severe embarrassment for the government if they do say no, because their credibility with the rest of the world is going to be severely reduced."

Haskins' comments were rejected by anti-Euro campaigner, Richard Tice.

"Nothing could be further from the truth. Actually we are seeing a divergence at the moment. Eurozone economies are struggling, suffering increased unemployment and increased inflation, whereas in Britain we are continuing to enjoy the most successful economy in Europe," he said.

Conservatives described the famous five economic tests as a "fig leaf," as ministers wait for public opinion to change in favour of the single currency.

"If Labour wants to take Britain into the euro, they should get on with it and hold a referendum, but I suspect the government is looking at the opinion polls and deciding it can't get away with this and the economic tests are going to be used as a fig-leaf for not going ahead with it," said shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram.