MEP Glenys Kinnock arranged the Euro meeting

Thursday's meeting has been arranged by Euro MP Glenys Kinnock and aims to highlight the priorities of the steel industry in Wales.

Mrs Kinnock lived for many years amongst steelworkers and their families when her Tredegar-born husband Neil was MP for Islwyn.

The most recent rescue package - presented to management by steel union officials on Tuesday - included an offer to pay part of the steelworkers' wages until market conditions improved.

Part of the money would come from union funds, with the rest being provided by the Welsh Assembly and the European Union.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Tony Blair pledged to do everything in his power to help save steel jobs.

No consultation

The Anglo-Dutch company announced in February that it would have to slim down its workforce in the UK.

Politicians were furious that there had been no prior consultation, and mounted a series of unsuccessful bids to make the company change its mind.

But earlier this week, unions were celebrating something of a breakthrough.

They met management at the Corus headquarters in London to present them with a rescue plan - and emerged from the talks more optimistic about the future.

The company has agreed to join a working party

We will certainly examine carefully the proposals that have been put forward by the trade unions and management for this specific help with training

Prime Minister Tony Blair

Mr Blair told MPs on Wednesday: "We stand ready to help in any other way that we can with those people, unfortunately several thousand who face losing their jobs.

"I pay tribute to the way that the trade unions have put together their package.

"They have done it in a highly responsible way, a commercially sensitive way, and I hope the company listens to them, we certainly will."

The working party will meet over the next few weeks to work on proposals aimed at saving the jobs.

Passionate attack

Mr Blair added: "We will certainly examine carefully the proposals that have been put forward by the trade unions and management for this specific help with training."

He was responding to Denis MacShane, Labour MP for Rotherham and chairman of the steel group of MPs.

Mr MacShane had earlier launched a passionate attack on the Tories for "butchering" Britain's steel industry for 20 years.

Mr MacShane said: "As our nation's hearts go out to farming communities, can we spare a thought for the 6,000 steel workers' families who face great misery without a peep of sympathy from the party opposite or their string-pullers in the press."