Vilnius - Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius welcomed a European Union decision Friday to allocate 175 million euros (240 million dollars) towards laying an undersea "power link" from Sweden to either to Lithuania or Latvia.

"The decision is most welcome as it not only enables us to build an interconnection with Sweden which is important for all Lithuanian energy consumers but also testifies to the feeling of solidarity that the European Union showed again," Kubilius said.

Vilnius - One hundred days after he swept to power in a general election, Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius sounded an optimistic note Wednesday about his country's chances of adopting the euro.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Valdas Adamkus, Kubilius said Lithuania would be ready "at any time" to replace its national currency, the lita, with the pan-European currency.

Vilnius - New Lithuanian prime minister Andrius Kubilius presented his incoming government's plans to parliament for approval Friday, promptly laying the blame for Lithuania's current economic problems squarely with his predecessor, Gediminas Kirkilas.

"It is regrettable that in his time, the IMF warned that the government needed to take action to avoid an imminent crisis. No action was taken, so we have a crisis," Kubilius said to howls of protest from Kirkilas' supporters.

The Lithuanian economy has recorded some of Europe's highest growth rates over the last decade, but that progress has slowed markedly this year and many in the largest and most economically powerful of the Baltic states fear the country may slide into recession soon.