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Portuguese Prime Minister says EU cannot accept new members, including Ukraine

"The EU has very clear criteria for accepting new member states, but, unfortunately, there are no criteria for determining its own ability to accept new members. Let's be frank, under the current institutional and budgetary arrangement, the EU is unable to meet the expectations it sets," Antonio Costa said

MADRID, November 21. /TASS/. The European Union is unable to accept new members, including Ukraine, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Monday at a conference organized by CNN Portugal.

"This crisis [the Ukrainian situation] has brought the issue of [EU] enlargement to the forefront, and the issue is particularly dramatic with regard to Ukraine, and with regard to the many promises that the EU has made over the years, thus raising hope especially in the Western Balkan countries. So, the EU has very clear criteria for accepting new member states, but, unfortunately, there are no criteria for determining its own ability to accept new members," the TV channel quoted Costa as saying, "Let's be frank, under the current institutional and budgetary arrangement, the EU is unable to meet the expectations it sets".

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