Hello reader,

On Wednesday 29 November, I’ll be chairing a special livestreamed event with a panel of leading experts, including the political scientists Ivan Krastev and Nathalie Tocci.

We’ll explore the reasons why the EU is expanding, the reforms it will need to undertake if it is to function as a bigger group – and the consequences of expansion for an already under-pressure union. Book tickets here.

When the 27 EU heads of government convene in Brussels in December, they will discuss one of the most important decisions in the history of the union: whether to green-light membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

Not all existing members support the institutional reforms needed for an expanded Europe, and many are concerned about the prospect of cuts in EU funding or increases in EU contributions. National politics will play a major role in how the process plays out.

Is the EU ready to expand? And what will the process mean for Europe's cohesion and - once it's completed - its geopolitical future?

Tickets are available here.

I hope to see you here.

Jon Henley
Europe correspondent, the Guardian