With the European elections just two days away, JO HAYWOOD asks: how European is York - and does the city really compare with the likes of Paris and Frankfurt?

YORK is in Europe, but is it a European city? In purely geographical terms, there is no escaping the fact. York is in there with the best of them, with the likes of Paris, Milan, Florence and Frankfurt. But what about in cultural and social terms?

Gillian Cruddas, head of York Tourism Bureau, thinks York has a difficult balancing act to master when it comes to being European. On one hand, it wants to promote itself as a contemporary, cosmopolitan city; but on the other it has to continue to attract tourists seeking an English city steeped in tradition.

"Most of our European and American visitors come for our 2,000 years of history," she said. "Having said that, aspects like the riverside bars and City Screen give us something of a European feel."

York recently joined the European Cities Group to promote stronger links across the EU, but these cities, however friendly a group they may be, are still in competition to bring in the tourists.

"It's a question of getting the balance right," said Mrs Cruddas. "We want to be seen as a modern European city, and we certainly don't want to be seen to be standing still. But we always have to bear in mind our selling point: our wealth of history.

"It would also help if people could spend their euros more easily in York."

The Richard III Museum in Monk Bar is one of the relatively small number of York businesses to readily accept euros. Mike Bennett, who runs the museum, admits he launched the initiative as a way of gaining publicity, but soon found that there was a healthy demand for euro-friendly tourist attractions.

"It has been very good for us," he said. "If you ask me, it's a no-lose situation. Yes, it is difficult to change coins at the bank, but you still win out because visitors tend to spend more. I also like to think it's an important gesture of friendship and warmth towards our fellow Europeans."

Mr Bennett recently visited Milan where, he said, life was lived at a very different pace.

"I saw families dining out together after 8pm," he said. "In this country, most pubs don't allow kids in after 7pm.

"And the licensing laws in other European countries mean they can have a leisurely drink, while we have to rush out, get legless and have a fight. York is moving in the right direction with the emergence of the caf bar culture, but we really have to get our licensing laws sorted out if we want to be truly European."

He believes York must strive to become more European if it is to attract visitors from EU countries to make up the shortfall in tourists from the US.

"It could take an entire generation before Americans feel comfortable flying again after 9/11," he said. "We have to play to our target audience and, for the foreseeable future, that's Europe."

Karin von Bismarck, who runs the Family Au Pair agency in York, settled in the city two years ago. As a German who has lived and travelled throughout Europe and America, she has a good grasp of what being European really is. So, how does York stack up?

"York is a very European city," she said. "It's very clean and the pedestrianised centre is a particularly European feature. You can shop and sit outside cafes for a drink without having cars and buses roaring past your nose.

"The restaurants, pubs and bars are always very welcoming and cater for everyone, wherever they come from. If you go out in York at night, there is a very European atmosphere."

Ms von Bismarck is from Cologne, but she spent a number of years in Frankfurt, a European city she believes is similar to York.

"York is like a cut-down version," she said. "Frankfurt has a very cosmopolitan feel, and York has the same thing on a smaller scale.

"It has everything that makes a city beautiful. If only you could get the traffic problems sorted out, then it would be perfect. But I suppose a European city wouldn't be a European city without a few traffic jams."

:: Europe on your doorstep...

Learn the lingo with an evening class in a foreign language. Alliance Francaise De York (01904 656827) offers French classes, study tours, day schools and cultural activities. For other language courses, try Future Prospects on 01904 634748 or Learndirect on 0800 100 900.

Listen to York Symphony Orchestra recreate some of Europe's finest harmonies and ballads. The next concert on Saturday June 26 at Central Hall, York University, will feature music by European composers Schumann and Schubert.

Reinforce Anglo-Scandinavian links with a visit to the Jorvik Centre. If this is too tame for your tastes, you could wait for the next Viking invasion, which is due to take place next February in the form of York's annual Viking Festival.

Buy yourself a bit of Europe at York's next continental market on June 17-19. Europe's finest delicacies, arts and crafts will be on offer, so get saving your pounds, pennies and euros now.

Go on a European booze cruise without losing sight of the Ouse by sampling fine wines, beers, lagers and - for non-boozers - coffees at York's host of continental bars and cafes, such as Caf Rouge in Low Petergate.

Move to the rhythm of the Med by joining York's thriving flamenco and salsa scene. There will be a Salsa Sunday session at the Gallery nightclub on June 13. For more information about this and other salsa events in the city, click on to www.encuentrolatino.co.uk

Dress to impress with European flare at fashionable York boutiques such as Mango or French Connection.

Jet off on one of the daily budget flights from Leeds Bradford Airport to Paris, Cologne, Barcelona or Athens and experience Europe first hand without breaking the bank. While you're there, why not take the opportunity to visit Munster in Germany or Dijon in France which are both twinned with York.

Eat your way round Europe... without leaving York (all numbers 01904)

French: Francois Restaurant, Castlegate, 612744; Lime House Restaurant, Goodramgate, 632734; Sous Le Mont, The Mount, 619444

Greek: Mana Greek Restaurant, St Sampsons Square, 627793

Italian: The Bari, The Shambles, 633807; Bella Pasta, Low Petergate, 611221; Caesar's Restaurant, Goodramgate, 670914; Caffe Uno, Clifford Street, 624474; De'Alto Mediterranean Restaurant, St Martin's Courtyard, Coney Street, 635331; Gianni's, Micklegate, 633680; Mama Mia, Gillygate, 622020

Updated: 09:26 Tuesday, June 08, 2004