Lithuania to have the EU Constitution ratified by the Parliament

The Lithuanian government decided on Wednesday that the European Union constitution, signed at the weekend by the bloc's member countries, would be ratified in parliament, the government information bureau said.

"The government decided to ask President Valdas Adamkus to forward the EU Constitution for ratification in the parliament," the statement said.

A number of other EU member countries have announced that they will put the constitution to a referendum.

The Baltic country's government said "The smooth ratification of the Constitution for Europe would have a positive effect not only inside the country but also for its foreign policy as it will contribute to the image of Lithuania as an active and reliable EU partner."

It also noted that 90 percent of Lithuanian voters supported their country's EU membership in a referendum last year.

Lithuania joined the EU on May 1.