Nieuwe coalitieregering in Litouwen (en)

After a week of talks, Lithuania's ruling coalition announced on Wednesday it will form of a new centre-left government with the Labour opposition.

The deal should ensure a pro-European policy in the biggest Baltic state.

After the elections some experts had warned that Labour's charismatic leader, Russian-born millionaire Viktor Uspaskich could push for more pro-Moscow policies, however Labour has now joined the coalition with the Social Democrats and the Social Liberals.

"The Labour Party will be just like a partner but in no way a dominating force and this will guarantee the continuity of government which is what Brussels is looking and hoping for", Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas said according to Reuters.

Mr Brazauskas is hoping that Lithuania will join the euro as early as 2006 or 2007.

At the same time the Lithuanian government also decided yesterday to ratify the European Constitution in the parliament rather than organising a referendum.

The government asked the President Valdas Adamkus to put the Constitution forward for its ratification in the parliament.