Montenegro's new Prime Minister Milojko Spajic speaks during a parliament session in Montenegro's capital Podgorica, Oct 30, 2023. (PHOTO/AP)

PODGORICA - After weeks of negotiations, Montenegro's parliament on Tuesday appointed a new government, a coalition of parties expected to lead the Balkan country in its bid to join the European Union.

The new government, led by economist Milojko Spajic of the Europe Now Movement, will have 18 ministries and five deputy-prime ministers. It will include the Democrats, the Socialist People's Party and five parties of the Albanian minority.

According to the World Bank, the economy of Montenegro which unilaterally adopted euro in 2002 as its de facto currency, and mainly relies on revenues from its Adriatic tourism, is expected to grow by 4.8 percent in 2023

"Our four main foreign policy priorities are full membership ... in the EU, active, credible membership in NATO, improvement of good relations with neighbors and strengthening of the country's role in multilateral organizations," Spajic told deputies.

He said economic policies would aim to improve the living standards of Montenegro's population of only 620,000, and include reforms enabling more fiscal revenues, investment, a better business climate and judiciary.

Following an overnight debate, 46 deputies in the 81-seat parliament backed the government.

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The alliance For A Better Montenegro, led by Andrija Mandic, agreed to vote for Spajic's cabinet in exchange for the position of the parliament speaker and four ministerial posts after a government's reshuffle tentatively scheduled for the next year.

According to the World Bank, the economy of Montenegro which unilaterally adopted euro in 2002 as its de facto currency, and mainly relies on revenues from its Adriatic tourism, is expected to grow by 4.8 percent in 2023.

Montenegro joined NATO in 2017.