[JURIST] The Parliament of the Republic of Montenegro [official website, in Serbian] formally adopted the country's new constitution late Monday night, giving effect to the document's provisions. Parliamentary speaker Ranko Krivokapic welcomed the new constitution as protecting the rule of law as well as minority and human rights. Krivokapic also noted the importance of a constitutional provision which will allow parliament to vote with a two-thirds majority on whether the country should join the European Union.

Last Monday, Montenegrin Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic signed the EU-Montenegro Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) [press release, PDF; JURIST report], which is expected to prepare Montenegro for entry into the European Union by 2015. Montenegro [JURIST news archive] is the newest European state considering EU membership. B92 has more.