Tony Blair has continued his EU charm offensive aimed at speeding up economic reform.

The prime minister met with his Swedish counterpart, Goran Persson, at lunchtime on Thursday as part of his initiative to discuss ways of modernising the EU to cope with its enlargement.

The two men were at Chequers to consider ways of getting the EU to adapt more swiftly to the 10 new countries joining in May.

Blair also wants to see an overhaul of EU directives and changes to make the labour market more flexible.

Downing Street described the meeting as part of a consultation with all of the EU member states irrespective of their influence.

"We have to work with other allies such as Spain, Italy and Poland - and small countries as well. We have to see how much progress can be made given the positions of other countries," said the official spokesman.

Trilateral

Thursday’s initiative followed Blair’s high profile trilateral with France’s President Chirac and Germany’s prime minister Gerhard Schroeder.

The three men sought to play down claims that a new triumvirate powerbase was unfolding, instead stressing they were united in their aim of creating "social solidarity".

"If we can come to certain basic agreements about that it would be of enormous assistance, not just for our own countries but also for Europe," said Blair.

Similarities

Officials were also keen to highlight the similarities between Britain and Sweden and the two leaders.

The Social Democrats have been in power for much of the last 70 years and have championed policies that Tony Blair would like to see introduced in Britain.

Though there is a strong state sector, particularly with healthcare, Sweden has a strong emphasis on public-private partnerships.

Sweden also has low unemployment and a strong economy.

Like Britain, it has not joined the single currency - despite strong campaigning by the government Swedish voters rejected membership last September’s referendum.