Albanian parliament approved on Thursday the amendments to the country's electoral law, removing one of barriers on its way to join the European Union.

Lawmakers approved the changes to the country's electoral code with 127 in favor and two against in the country's 140-seat parliament.

The amended law will come into effect for the next general elections in 2013. And it will introduce, among other changes, digital voter identity checks in Tirana, the capital city of Albania.

It is hoped the reformed law will improve transparency in the country's key elections, which have been dogged by fraud allegations.

The EU has been asking Albania to mend its ways in 12 fields before it can award the candidate status that Albania has been striving for.

Reforming its electoral code is one of the requirements. This autumn, the EU will make a new assessment on Albania's bid following two consecutive refusals in as many years.

Stefan Fule, the EU commissioner for enlargement, welcomed the adoption of the reforms to the electoral code.

"Reform in the rule of law constitutes a key factor for moving ahead on the EU integration path," Fule said in a statement through his spokesperson Peter Stano.