In the context of European Union enlargement, which of the following countries was actively seeking membership before finally joining as the twenty eighth member in 2013?

Introduction / Context:
The European Union is a political and economic union of European countries. Over time, new member states have joined through a formal accession process. Many general knowledge questions test awareness of which countries were candidates and which ultimately became members. This question focuses on identifying the country from the options that was seeking membership and later became a full member in 2013.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The question refers to European Union membership, not to any other regional grouping.

- The country in question was an official candidate that eventually joined as the twenty eighth member in 2013.

- Only one of the four listed countries fits both the geographical and political context of European Union accession at that time.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this, we consider which of the listed countries is European and which has a known history of European Union candidacy. Myanmar and Brazil are not located in Europe and are not associated with European Union accession. Italy is a founding or long standing member of the Union, not a later candidate. Croatia, on the other hand, is a European country from the Balkans that applied for membership, completed negotiations, and joined the European Union in 2013. Therefore, Croatia is the correct choice.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Examine the geographical locations of the four countries listed. Step 2: Myanmar is in Southeast Asia and has no link to European Union membership. Step 3: Brazil is in South America and is not a European Union candidate. Step 4: Italy is a core member of the European Union, not a new candidate during the twenty first century enlargement process. Step 5: Croatia is a European country in the Balkan region and is well known for becoming the twenty eighth member of the European Union in 2013 after a period as a candidate country. Step 6: Therefore, select Croatia as the country that was seeking membership and later joined.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick check in reliable international relations references or on the official European Union website confirms that Croatia signed an accession treaty and became a full member on 1 July 2013. Lists of current and former candidate countries also identify Croatia as a past candidate that successfully completed the process. No such information exists for Myanmar or Brazil, and Italy appears as an original or long standing member, not as a later candidate. These cross checks verify that Croatia matches the description in the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Myanmar is not a European country and has no connection with European Union membership negotiations, so it cannot be correct. Brazil is a large South American nation and has its own regional organisations but is not a European Union candidate. Italy is a long time member state, not a country merely seeking membership during the period described. Hence, only Croatia fits the role of a candidate country that later became a member in 2013.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners see Italy in the options and quickly associate it with the European Union without thinking about the difference between founding members and later candidates. Others may not be sure which countries are from Europe, especially when the list includes nations from different continents. A careful reading of the phrase seeking membership and awareness of the date of accession help avoid these errors. Remember that Croatia is the relatively new member that joined in 2013.

Final Answer:
The country that was seeking European Union membership and later joined as the twenty eighth member is Croatia.