Lawmakers in Montenegro passed a package of legislation on judicial reforms and strengthening media freedom, a move that should push forward EU accession negotiations that began in 2012.
The bills submitted by the centre-right government of Prime Minister Milojko Spajić were passed late Friday with support of most of the opposition, public broadcaster RTCG reported.
The parliament in the capital Podgorica approved laws that put in place tougher provisions to prevent corruption and to allow for the confiscation of assets derived from criminal activities.
It also approved several laws related to the media, including broadcaster RTCG.
Parliament had passed other laws related to the judicial system in previous days, including regulations for the election of independent courts and public prosecutors' offices.
The laws adopted follow the norms common in EU countries. Observers caution, however, that the next test will be appropriately applying and implementing them.
Once the reforms come into full force, the European Union could provisionally close several chapters in the accession negotiations. That would put Montenegro out in front of four other Western Balkan countries in membership talks with Brussels: Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Montenegro has set itself the ambitious goal of joining the EU in 2028.