This week, EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline podcast looks into the EU’s enlargement strategy.

With Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine bringing the topic of EU enlargement back into sharp focus, the next political season could be crunch time for decisions that will shape the Union of the future.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi stated that enlargement by 2030 is possible, but depends on efforts from both candidate countries and the EU. The European Commission plans to make significant proposals in October, including a Growth Plan to increase investment in the Western Balkans. But what is the plan, and what are the key dates to look out for regarding decision-making?