ELVIS Presley made only one trip to Europe, as a GI almost 50 years ago.

But the rock and roll legend was heard again in Europe when his words echoed around the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Bury's Labour Euro MP Gary Titley took the unusual step of quoting "The King" during a debate on European Union enlargement. MEPs were discussing a progress report from the European Commission on negotiations with the ten countries that hope to join the EU by 2004.

If the EU is to keep the current enlargement timetable, negotiations with the applicant countries will have to be completed in time for the European summit meeting in Copenhagen at the end of this year.

Warning of the dangers of missing that deadline, Mr Titley said: "We must take advantage of this small window of opportunity before it is closed. Or in the words of the late, great Elvis Presley, it's now or never... tomorrow will be too late.

"History will not judge us extremely well if we fail to show the leadership and courage required at this moment. That is not to say that we should somehow weaken our demands on the applicant countries. Each one must be judged on its own merits."

Mr Titley, who acts as Labour's European spokesman on trade and industry, added that enlargement would bring major benefits to EU citizens.

"A single market of 500 million people will open up new business opportunities and help create the new jobs that Europe so desperately needs," he said.

"The prize of a reunited Europe is now finally within our grasp. We must not miss this unique opportunity to bring peace and prosperity to a continent that knew so much death, destruction and deprivation in the last century."