Howard holds out a hand to Europe

Michael Howard was today flying to Berlin to sign a historic pact to end the Conservatives' isolation in Europe.

He is aiming to halt the anti-European march of the Tories under Iain Duncan Smith and put the party centre stage in the EU again.

In a keynote speech in the German capital, the Tory leader will strike a markedly more positive note on Britain's relationship with Europe.

He will then go into a huddle with leaders of other European centreright parties to sign a new deal that will see Conservative MEPs play a bigger role in making EU laws. The move is a gamble for Mr Howard whose decision to build bridges in Europe has infuriated some Eurosceptic MEPs and MPs.

But he is determined to lead from the centre and keep on board big beasts like the strongly Europhile former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke.

Tonight's speech will set out Mr Howard's vision of an EU made up of self-governing nations enjoying maximum free trade with minimal interference from the European Commission. He will firmly stamp on claims that the Conservatives would seek to leave the EU, but he points out: "We oppose plans for deeper integration as set out in the draft EU constitution." Mr Howard will also make clear he remains flatly opposed to joining the euro.

In private talks, Mr Howard will agree for the Conservatives to be members of the European People's Party-European Democrats, the biggest bloc of centre-right wingers in the Euro-parliament. Mr Duncan Smith had pledged to quit the group because he viewed its policies as dyed-in-the-wool federalism.