Mandelson hopes to make Europe a safer place

Mr Mandelson, who has twice resigned from the Cabinet, was defending his appointment as the UK's next European Commissioner.

He insisted he would not have been appointed by Tony Blair unless the prime minister believed he was the best man for the job.

But he admitted he now faces possibly the biggest challenge of his career.

He is expected to take up the job on 1 November, once the commission has been approved by the European Parliament.

Mr Mandelson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Britain's influence in Europe had increased in recent years but he needed to raise Europe's stock with the British people.

MANDELSON'S CAREER 1979-82 Lambeth councillor 1982-85 producer at London Weekend Television Late 1980s Director of Labour Party Campaigns and Communications 1992 Became MP for Hartlepool 1994 supported Blair's leadership bid 1997 Ran Labour's election campaign 1997 Named Cabinet Minister Without Portfolio 1998 Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 1998 Resigned over Geoffrey Robinson house loan affair 1999 Returned as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 2001 Resigned over Hinduja passports affair Profile: Peter Mandelson Mandelson 'to pursue EU reform'

"People do see how British influence in the European Union has grown. We are leaders not followers now. We are certainly not parked on the sidelines," he told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme.

Mr Mandelson said he hopes to make Brussels more accountable, create a clear set of priorities in a focused strategy for the EU, ensure European regulations help and not hinder the creation of new jobs and he hopes to help make Europe a safer place.

"As a member of a rather disliked Brussels Commission with a European Union which is not universally popular, I will be doing my bit to turn that round.

"I think that is why Prime Minister persuaded me to take on the job.

"It is a huge challenge, bigger than anything I have taken on before, bigger possibly even than helping to turn round the Labour Party from near political extinction in the 1980s," he added.

Pro-European

Mr Mandelson said the British public will have a "huge opportunity" to decide where they want to go in Europe in the forthcoming referendum on the constitutional treaty.

On Friday Prime Minister Tony Blair ended months of speculation about the future of his close friend.

But the Tories say they believe he is too pro-European, while some Labour MPs criticised the move as "cronyism".

Mr Mandelson refused to be drawn on whether he had discussed a further cabinet post with Mr Blair. He told BBC2's Newsnight: "There is always a little bit of me that wants to come back to the Cabinet because I want to be vindicated in that sense given the rather unfair circumstances of my last departure.

Criticism

"But I have always recognised the difficulties of returning to the Cabinet and I think now, for example, given the very predictable media frenzy that would have accompanied it would not be a good idea."

There was speculation the idea of his return to the cabinet for a third time was dropped after fierce opposition from some senior ministers, including John Prescott.

The appointment means a possibly uncomfortable by-election in Mr Mandelson's Hartlepool seat, where Labour has a 15,000 majority.

Mr Blair said: "We need the very best person representing Britain in Europe and Peter Mandelson has the skills, ability and contacts in Europe to make a great success of it."

But there has been criticism of the move from Eurosceptics within Mr Mandelson's own party.

Ian Davidson, of lobby group Labour against a European Superstate, described the appointment as an "appalling" example of cronyism.

And former minister Kate Hoey said it was a setback for the "yes" campaigners.