Brussels, 04/08/2006 (Agence Europe) - Newly independent, Montenegro has still got a long way to go to meet international and European standards, especially in the area of fighting corruption. In a press release on 31 July Transparency International denounced the Montenegro parliament's rejection of a new draft law on conflicts of interest. The organisation notes that current legislation in force is inadequate and points out that “Public officials are allowed to serve on multiple boards of directors of major companies and receive payment for it”. The organisation's regional director for Europe and Central Asia, Miklos Marschall affirmed that “Strict regulation of conflict of interest is an absolute necessity for any country wishing to accede to the European Union”. Transparency regrets that with parliamentary elections planned in September there will be no discussions on conflicts of interest before November. In 2004 an investigation carried out by a non-governmental organisation based in Montenegro, NGO MAN, revealed that the four vice prime ministers and six other Montenegro government ministers held positions on the boards of directors in around twenty companies. They have all resigned since then. Mr Marschall warned that, “If Montenegro wants to be taken seriously by the EU, its parliament must stop avoiding judicial reform for personal gain”.