07/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - The joint EU/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) parliamentary committee, which met on 5 and 6 December in Brussels, supports the recommendation of the European Commission to grant the Republic of Macedonia candidate country status during the European Council of 15 and 16 December. FYROM is well on its way to complying with the Copenhagen criteria and the fact of having the status of candidate country would not only encourage the country to achieve further results in the reform process but also strengthen stability in the region and send a clear message that progress made is rewarded, MEPs and Macedonian MPs say in their final statement.