Montenegrin lawmakers on Thursday approved a new pro-Western government that has plans to speed up EU integration and make efforts to bridge the political divide in the small Balkan country..

Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic's government received the support of 45 deputies in an 81-member parliament, while three deputies opposed. Pro-Serbian and thus pro-Russian groups were not present at the session, reports ABC News.

The vote comes weeks after the previous pro-Serb government was ousted in a vote of no confidence in February..

The election of a pro-Western government in Montenegro is seen as another plus in the efforts of the collective West to maintain stability in the Balkans in the context of the war in Ukraine. This region is traditionally of interest to Russia, and Moscow seeks to maintain a strong influence there..

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“I am a great optimist and believe in a bright future for our Montenegro,” Abazovich told parliament. “We must all make an effort to make Montenegro the next member of the European Union. And we shouldn't have to wait long."

In 2017, Montenegro challenged Moscow and joined NATO. But the country of 620,000 remains divided between pro-Western groups and those who seek closer ties with the Slavic sister countries of Serbia and Russia..

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Abazovic was deputy prime minister in the previous pro-Serbian administration formed after the 2020 elections that ousted the long-ruling Democratic Socialist Party from power..

However, Abazovich later cited stalled EU integration to force the government's resignation through a vote of no confidence.. His new government is a minority cabinet supported in parliament by the opposition DPS President Milo Djukanovic.

Pro-Serb parties in Montenegro want to restore Russian influence.

This party ruled Montenegro for 30 years before the 2020 vote. Western ally Djukanovic led Montenegro to independence from Serbia in 2006 and join NATO. But his party's popularity has plummeted over the years, largely due to allegations of corruption..

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Djukanovic argued that pro-Serb parties in Montenegro want to restore the influence of Serbia and Russia. Pro-Serbian parties also enjoyed the support of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro.

Abazovich said in a speech Thursday that he wants to unite Montenegro's opposition factions "

Recall that recently Montenegro closed the airspace for Russian aircraft.