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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Lisa O'Carroll in Brussels

As Ukraine and others queue to join, is EU ready for enlargement?

Ursula von der Leyen shakes hands with Volodymyr Zelenskiy
Ursula von der Leyen and Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a visit by the European Commission president to Kyiv in May. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

She has extended the invitation multiple times but has yet to set a date for the welcome party. “You are part of our family, your future is in our union, and our union is not complete without you,” Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, last year told Ukraine and the nine other countries queuing patiently for EU membership.

But as the prospect of Ukraine in particular joining the bloc looms closer, EU leaders are asking if the EU is ready for enlargement.

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