Euro MPs are ready to call for England's Euro 2000 clash with Germany to be switched from Charleroi to Brussels amid increased fears over safety.

An emergency debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg is expected to pass a motion urging UEFA to move the June 17 game from the 30,000- capacity Stade Communale to the King Baudouin Stadium - the rebuilt Heysel - in the Belgian capital.

The motion, drafted by three British Tory MEPs and signed by a further 29 members including some German representatives, declares that the Parliament is 'shocked' to discover that the Charleroi Stadium is not within safety regulations.

It adds that UEFA should pay attention to the concerns of the Belgian Police Federation about potential crowd control problems and to examine the possibility of moving the game to Brussels 'as a matter of urgency'.

While a vote from the European Parliament will not force UEFA to act, it would intensify the pressure on both European football's governing body and the Belgian government.

Fears about safety in Charleroi have increased recently but the Belgian authorities have been determined that all three games at Charleroi in Euro 2000 should go ahead. England also face Romania there in their final group match on June 20.

But if the vote is carried, Parliament president Nicole Fontaine of France will put the ball in UEFA's court by effectively ensuring that the Euro 2000 organisers will be held accountable should the worst fears about security be realised.

One UK government source said: 'A lot of people are putting markers down in case things go wrong so they can say "We told you so". If the vote is passed it would put even more pressure on the Belgians.'

Moving the game to Brussels - ironically to the scene of the tragedy at the 1985 European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus where 39 fans died - would increase the ticket allocation for England fans, which is barely 8,000 for Charleroi.

Euro 2000 officials did not rule out the match being moved last night. Spokesman Pierre Migesha said: 'This decision could be taken, although it would have to be an exceptional matter for it to happen.

'We certainly think it is good enough for a European Championship game, including England v Germany, and as far as we're concerned that is where the game will be played.

'But if the president of the European Parliament makes a statement we will have to see what UEFA does. If anything is going to change, it would come from UEFA first.'

However, UEFA spokesman Frits Ahlstrom said last night: 'This is the first we've heard about the debate.'

Tory MEP Roy Perry, one of the three original co-signatories, said: 'Our prime concern is the safety of the ground but we are also worried about the ability of the authorities to police the stadium properly and control the fans.

'The Belgian police have expressed concerns and if they have reservations, their government and UEFA should re-examine the situation.'