Abstract
The objective of this report is to investigate media narratives on perceptions of borders and how these relate to the wider European Union project, and current political processes in minority regions in Europe. Specifically, we seek to identify border narratives in a selection of minority language newspapers across a comparative case study of five European contexts, in Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, and Slovakia. The aim is to investigate the possible role of key de- and re-bordering events, including the 2015 humanitarian crisis and the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, in shaping perceptions of borders and the European project in minority regions. We focus on recent re-bordering trends in Europe, as they are seen to present a threat to the process of European integration and are likely to alter perceptions of European heritage, including shared values, beliefs, and traditions. The analysis presented in the study unpacks the significance of border narratives during times of perceived crisis. We are also interested in how a vision of Europe is shared and expressed by media outlets in these specific regional minority contexts and consider what the findings of this report may signify for the future of the European project.