THE culture secretary of every European Union country has been urged to visit Liverpool before 2008 is out, to sample its Capital of Culture success.

The ministers – all 26 of them – were encouraged to put a trip to the city in their diaries during round-table talks at the famous Palace of Versailles, near Paris, it has been revealed. The call came from Andy Burnham, the Liverpool-born Culture Secretary, who said it was part of his pledge to “bang the drum for Liverpool” .

Among the audience was Bernard Kouchner, the colourful French culture minister, a former communist who co-founded the famous Médecins Sans Frontières charity.

Mr Burnham – who recently said the Capital of Culture year has “surpassed all expectations” – explained: “I said to all the culture ministers ‘Come and see us before the year is over’.

“I think it’s really important that I spread the message, wherever I go, about how Liverpool has made a real run of its Capital of Culture year, about what a success it is.

“I’m sure that one or two of the culture ministers have visited already, but hopefully a few more of them will now come. I’m very much thinking about the legacy of 2008, including the international aspect.”

It is possible that Mr Burnham’s description of Liverpool’s success provided some relief from the summit’s agenda, billed as “audiovisual issues, paying special attention to regulatory framework governing electronic communication”.