But enlargement fatigue among the member states continues to muddy this optimistic forecast.

EU enlargement brought greater prosperity, with living standards improving throughout the Union, particularly in the new member states.

The most recent stage of EU enlargement last May added millions of Roma from the new member states of Central and Eastern Europe.

China is convinced that Member States still have the time and opportunity to achieve a broad consensus on the enlargement of the Security Council.

Although more than three quarters of the EU s member states are former enlargement countries, the Union s expansion is no longer viewed as an unalloyed success story.

Enlargement is now more easily politicized in individual member states, and this is especially the case where there is a groundswell of Euro skepticism upon which to draw.

Fiji also supports the efforts to move ahead with the reform through a proposal asking Member States to take serious decisions on the progress of the enlargement process.

After 1989, history has made EU enlargement indispensable, but, without institutional reform, a Europe of 27 member states will inevitably deliver ever worse and, to its citizens, increasingly disappointing results.

Regrettably, it failed to reach agreement on the enlargement of the Council, especially on an increase in the permanent member category.

China appeals to and urges all Member States to proceed from the consideration of maintaining the unity and long term interests of the United Nations and to make every effort to avoid an unfortunate situation in which a showdown on Security Council enlargement is forced upon Member States while conditions are net yet ripe.

Britain has continued to support EU enlargement, closer links with Turkey, and development in Africa, but it has not launched any creative initiatives to bring other member states along or change the terms of the EU debate.

But now the 25 member states must deal with the financial consequences of that enlargement, not just in the overall size of the European Union budget for the next seven years, but in who pays and who benefits.

It is a strategic illusion of the large member states that they can defend their own status without this stolid entity called Europe. After all, can Germany really afford to let the EU s enlargement into Eastern Europe fail?

Member States,

Member States

It can reinvigorate the spirit of earlier enlargement rounds, or it can succumb to enlargement fatigue.

African States fifteen Member States

Asian States fifteen Member States

This variant has a triple positive effect, on the number of unrepresented Member States, Member States within range and overrepresented Member States.

Eastern European States seven Member States

(a) African States fifteen Member States

(b) Asian States fifteen Member States

(c) Eastern European States seven Member States

Call this the paradox of enlargement.

GUUAM member States agree that the enlargement of the Security Council should go hand in hand with the reform of its working methods, in order to increase its efficiency and transparency and to strengthen the democratic and accountable nature of that body.

6. Encourages Member States

Proposals by Member States

Recommendations to Member States

Recommendations to Member States

Debt to Member States

Communication with member States

(p) Surpluses due to Member States are funds available for credit to Member States arising from unencumbered balances of the appropriations and contributions from new Member States.

Latin American and Caribbean States ten Member States

Western European and other States nine Member States.

Assessment of new Member States

10. Strongly encourages Member States

9. Strongly encourages Member States

10. Strongly encourages Member States

10. Strongly encourages Member States

Replies received from Member States

Calls upon Member States to

Ensuring compliance by Member States

Replies received from member States

Calls upon Member States to

Group statements by Member States