The decision was taken at Sunday's session of the SMC council and the party has sent a formal request to ALDE for membership, the party said on Thursday.

It had been anticipated that SMC, established in the run-up to the 13 July general election, which it won in a landslide, would join ALDE given its liberal policies.

"The SMC party sees its role in the social liberal wing of the European liberal political group," it said in the statements.

ALDE had previously issued SMC with an invitation to join its group.

SMC said the European political group expressed interest in SMC joining its ranks during the confirmation of Violeta Bulc for European transport commissioner on 20 October.