EU Enlargement has helped to transform Central and Eastern Europe into modern, well-functioning democracies. More recently, it has inspired far-reaching reforms in Turkey, Croatia and the Western Balkans. All European citizens benefit from having neighbours that are stable democracies and prosperous market economies. Enlargement is a carefully managed process which helps the transformation of the countries involved, extending peace, stability, prosperity, democracy, human rights and the rule of law across Europe. The European Union has undergone a number of enlargements since its creation. More and more countries have joined the first six Member States. The EU has 25 members today and will possibly soon count 27 Member States.

Macedonia's parliament voted a resolution Monday calling for a "strategy" to solve an ongoing row with neighouring Greece over its name, which has harmed its attempts to join the Europan Union.

Macedonia is not yet ready to start European Union membership talks, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said Monday, less than three weeks before an evaluation of the Balkan state's accession hopes.

The suspect, Vlado Taneski, was found in the cell with his head in a bucket of water. The police said the death seemed to be a suicide.

The violence and allegations of fraud marred parliamentary elections, which had been seen as a test of Macedonia’s democratic credentials as it seeks to join the European Union.

Political divisions, Russian tensions and a combat mission in Afghanistan have exposed disparities among members.