Metro France has beat out 20 Minutes for the number one position, while in Belgium, Metro's French edition is in second place.

Metro's Dutch edition in Belgium has climbed to the fifth spot for Dutch language papers.

In France, Metro distributed 778,000 copies per day in the first half of 2007, while rival 20 Minutes distributed 754,000, Newspaper Innovation reported.

In Belgium, Metro's Dutch edition climbed from the eighth position in 2003/2004, to fifth in 2006/2007. Metro's French edition in Belgium was in fifth place four years ago, and is now in second place. Together, the French and Dutch editions have daily readership of 813,000, making Metro the second newspaper in Belgium after Het Laatste Nieuws / De Nieuwe Gazet, Newspaper Innovation reported.

Behind France's top two in circulation are Direct Soir, with distribution at 468,000, and Matin Plus at 411,000 copies.