From Debordering to Geopolitical Agency: The European Council’s Evolving Border and Territorial Discourse

This article examines how the European Council has redefined its approach to borders, territoriality, and geopolitical agency in response to a shifting global order marked by multiple, overlapping crises. Through a content analysis of European Council Conclusions from 2022 to 2025, the study identifies six key thematic clusters that structure the EU’s border-related discourse. These include post-COVID debordering, external border protection, territorial integrity, strategic decoupling, the changing global order, and EU enlargement. The findings reveal a significant reorientation of the Council’s geopolitical focus toward Eastern Europe and the Middle East, with declining emphasis on broader regional frameworks. The analysis demonstrates how the European Council has evolved into a central geopolitical actor, actively shaping the EU’s external actions in times of profound instability.