An apparatus and method for deriving a motion vector predictor (MVP) or a MVP candidate for a current block are disclosed. Embodiments according of the present invention receive a first motion vector associated a first reference picture in a first reference picture list and a second motion vector associated with a second reference picture in a second reference picture list of a spatially neighboring block. A MVP or at least one MVP candidate associated with a selected reference picture in a selected reference picture list for the current block is then determined based on the first reference picture, the second reference picture and the selected reference picture according to a pre-defined priority order. The MVP or MVP candidate is determined depending on whether the first reference picture is the same as the selected reference picture or whether the second reference picture is the same as the selected reference picture.