KIEV, July 16 - Parliament on Thursday passed all the laws needed to receive an installment of more than $3 billion under an IMF-backed bailout program, Finance Ministry official Artem Shevalev reported.

Ukraine has so far received $5 billion from the International Monetary Fund, out of an overall pledge of $17.5 billion. To get more, it had to implement reforms including legislative changes to the banking system and energy sector.

Lawmakers passed the last of the requisite laws on Thursday. "Thanks to the MPs for being responsible - all currently outstanding IMF and World Bank laws (have been) approved," Shevalev said in a Facebook post, Reuters reported.

The IMF cash is part of a broader $40 billion bailout to shore up Ukraine's economy, which has been pushed close to bankruptcy by years of economic mismanagement and a conflict with pro-Russian separatists. Ukraine is expected to come up with $15 billion of this by restructuring its sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt.

Shevalev said the laws would help unlock financial aid, including $1.7 billion from the IMF, $1 billion from the World Bank, $300 million from Japan and 200 million euros ($218 million) from Germany.

"These funds will be used to support the budget and foreign currency reserves, that is, to strengthen the hryvnia (currency) and for urgent budgetary needs," he said.

On top of its battle to get its finances in order, Ukraine also faces the challenge of managing the separatist conflict in the east of the country, where violent clashes continue despite a ceasefire deal.

On Thursday, parliament approved a draft law to grant two separatist regions greater autonomy, a step towards meeting the demands of the ceasefire agreement agreed in February.

President Petro Poroshenko submitted the bill to parliament under pressure from Western leaders to stick to the peace deal.

"We've been talking about these changes for over a year. It's time to stop talking and get down to business," Poroshenko told parliament before the vote.

Opponents of the law said it undermined Ukraine's struggle to keep control of its territory after Crimea was annexed by Russia in March last year. (rt/ez)