Security of the Eastern Border of the European Union. The Politico-Legal Aspects
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34625/issn.2183-2705(38)2025.ic-10Keywords:
European Union, Eastern Flank, Security, Russian Federation, Imperialism, Defence LinesAbstract
When Russia launched a wide-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it became obvious to the entire European Union that the Russian Federation posed one of the most serious threats to the entire region, including the European Union. Therefore, the countries of the EU's eastern flank have undertaken initiatives to strengthen the defence system of their eastern borders forming also the EU's eastern border. Based on the following methods: legal dogmatic method, legal theoretical method, comparative method, systemic method, qualitative and quantitative analyses supplemented by a historical approach, the article analyses the current security environment of the Baltic States and Poland (as European Union countries). This allowed us to understand the motives behind undertaking the East Shield and Baltic Defence Line initiatives. The main purpose of the article is to analyse the evolution of the European Union's approach to the security of its eastern external border, with particular emphasis on investments in defence infrastructural projects in the Baltic States and Poland.
References
ANDERSSON, Jan Joel and BRITZ, Malena. The European Union’s role in European defence industrypolicy. Defence Studies, 2025, pp. 1-20. ISSN: 1743-9698. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/14702436.2025.2472694. Viewed 12.04.2025.
BIZIEWSKI, Jerzy. Eastern Flank of EU and NATO – Challenge and Opportunity. In: RAMÍREZ, Jesús Martín and BIZIEWSKI, Jerzy (eds.), Security and Defence in Europe. Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications. Cham: Springer, 2020, pp. 177-199. ISBN: 978-3-030-12292-8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12293-5_14. Viewed 8.04.2025.
CASTRO MOREIRA, Fátima and BRAVO, Bárbara Magalhães. EU Integrated Maritime Policy and multilevel governance. Juridical Tribune, 2019, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 535-548. ISSN: 3008-637X. Available from: https://www.tribunajuridica.eu/arhiva/An9v3/2.%20Bravo,%20Moreira.pdf. Viewed: 5.06.2025.
CASTRO MOREIRA, Fátima and MATOS, André Pereira. A governança multinível na proteção do direito fundamental ao ambiente da União Europeia: o Pacto Ecológico Europeu e o projeto Cities Mission. Revista Jurídica Portucalense, 2022, no. 32, pp. 364-400. Available from: https://doi.org/10.34625/issn.2183-2705(32)2022.jm-01. Viewed 18.05.2025.
CHAŁUBIŃSKA-JENTKIEWICZ, Katarzyna, KARPIUK, Mirosław and KOSTRUBIEC, Jarosław. The Legal Status of Public Entities in the Field of Cybersecurity in Poland. Maribor: Institute for Local Self-Government Maribor, 2021. ISBN 978-961-7124-03-3. Available from: https://doi.org/10.4335/2021.5. Viewed: 17.05.2025.
CHILCZUK, Maciej. Tarcza Wschód – odstraszanie i obrona [online]. May 2024. Polska Zbrojna. Available from: https://www.polska-zbrojna.pl/home/articleshow/41791?t=Tarcza-Wschod-odstraszanie-i-obrona&utm. Viewed 12.04.2025.
CHRUŚCIEL, Marcin. Wspólna polityka zagraniczna i bezpieczeństwa. In: ŚWISTAK, Marek and TKACZYŃSKI, Jan Wiktor (eds.), Wybrane polityki publiczne Unii Europejskiej : stan i perspektywy. Karków: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego, 2015, p. 201. ISBN: 978-83-233-3881-9.
CZURYK, Małgorzata. Cybersecurity and Protection of Critical Infrastructure. Studia Iuridica Lublinensia, 2023, vol. 32, nº 5, pp.43-52. ISSN: 1731-6375. Available from: https://doi.org/10.17951/sil.2023.32.5.43-52. Viewed: 18.04.2025
CZURYK, Małgorzata. Zarządzanie kryzysowe w obszarze cyberbezpieczeństwa. Ius et Securitas, 2025, vol. 3, nº1. ISSN: 3071-799X.
DAYIOĞLU, Attila Gökhun. Poland’s Wall of Defence: The Strategic and Political Impact of the East Shield Project [online]. February 2025. Essydo Magazine. Available from: https://essydo.com/2025/02/26/polands-wall-of-defence-the-strategic-and-political-impact-of-the-east-shield-project/. Viewed 12.04.2025.
FISZER, Józef M. Reformy i ewolucja Wspólnej Polityki Bezpieczeństwa i Obrony UE w latach 2016-2023. Osiągnięcia i niepowodzenia. Politeja, 2024, vol. 88, nº1, pp. 121-137. ISSN: 1733-6716.
Frontline countries pitch €10 billion defence line for Russia-Belarus border [online]. February 2025. Euractive. Available from: https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence/news/frontline-countries-pitch-e10-billion-defence-line-for-russia-belarus-border/. Viewed 14.04.2025.
GAIE, Christophe, KARPIUK, Mirosław, STRIZZOLO, Nicola. Cybersecurity of Public Sector Institutions. Prawo i Więź, 2024, vol. 53, nº6, pp. 347-362. ISSN: 2299-405X. Available from: https://doi.org/10.36128/PRIW.VI53.1129. Viewed: 18.04.2025.
GOODMAN, Joseph William. Telecommunications Policy-making in the European Union. Cheltenham–Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2006, p. 50. ISBN: 978-1-84376-806-7.
Graube: Baltijas aizsardzības līnija ļoti ievērojami apgrūtinās iespējamā pretinieka - Krievijas, virzīšanos Latvijā [online]. January 2024. Available from: https://nra.lv/latvija/444721-graube-baltijas-aizsardzibas-linija-loti-ieverojami-apgrutinas-iespejama-pretinieka-krievijas-virzisanos-latvija.htm. Viewed 14.04.2025.
GRIGORYAN, Armen. The war in Ukraine and western appeasement [online]. March 2022. Available from: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2022/03/23/the-war-in-ukraine-and-western-appeasement/. Viewed 12.04.2025.
HIMMELFARB, Gertrude. The New History and the Old: Critical Essays and Reappraisals. Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2004, p. 172. ISBN: 0-674-01384-0.
HOFFER, Peter Charles. The Historians’ Paradox: The Study of History in Our Time. New York: New York University Press, 2008, pp. 106-127. ISBN: 978-0-8147-3714-9.
JEDLIŃSKI, Marek. Polityka zagraniczna Federacji Rosyjskiej w latach 90-tych. Kontekst historyczno-ideowy. Środkowoeuropejskie Studia Polityczne, 2009, nº3, pp. 125-142. ISSN: 1731-7517.
JONES, Seth Glen. 2025. Russia’s Shadow War Against the West [online]. Center for Strategic and International Studies. Available from: https://www.csis.org/analysis/russias-shadow-war-against-west. Viewed 12.04.2025.
KACZMAREK, Krzysztof, KARPIUK, Mirosław, MELCHIOR, Claudio. A Holistic Approach to Cybersecurity and Data Protection in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data. Prawo i Więź, 2024, vol. 50, nº3, pp. 103-121. ISSN: 2299-405X. Available from: https://doi.org/10.36128/PRIW.VI50.907. Viewed 11.04.2025.
KACZMAREK, Krzysztof. Rosyjska dezinformacja jako element budowania wpływów w Europie: analiza i perspektywy. Roczniki Nauk Społecznych, 2024, vol. 16(52), nº1, pp. 109-121. ISSN: 01374176. Available from: https://doi.org/10.18290/rns2024.0002. Viewed 8.04.2025.
KARPIUK, Mirosław, KOSTRUBIEC, Jarosław. Provincial Governor as a Body Responsible for Combating State Security Threats. Studia Iuridica Lublinensia, 2024, vol. 33, nº1, pp. 107-122. ISSN: 1731-6375. Available from: https://doi.org/10.17951/sil.2024.33.1.107-122. Viewed: 18.04.2025.
KORNAI, János. The great transformation of Central Eastern Europe. Success and disappointment. Economics of Transition, 2006, vol. 14, nº2, p. 228 (207-244). ISSN: 0967-0750.
KOWALSKI, Wawrzyniec. Legal Preconditions for Armed Intervention in the Responsibility to Protect Concept: Remarks de lege lata and de lege ferenda. Studia Iuridica Lublinensia, 2023, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 159-189. ISSN: 1731-6375. Available from: https://doi.org/10.17951/sil.2023.32.1.159-189. Viewed: 19.05.2025.
MILEVSKI, Lukas. Manoeuvre Warfare in the Baltic: Political Imperatives and Tactical Conditions. The RUSI Journal, 2024, vol. 169, nº6, pp. 78-86. ISSN: 0307-1847. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/03071847.2024.2407534. Viewed 12.04.2025.
MILEVSKI, Lukas. The Baltic Defense Line [online]. February 2024. Foreign Policy Research Institute. Available from: https://www.fpri.org/article/2024/02/the-baltic-defense-line/. Viewed 14.04.2025.
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENCE (POLAND). „Tarcza Wschód” wzmocni bezpieczeństwo Polski i wschodniej flanki NATO [online]. May 2024. Available from: https://www.gov.pl/web/obrona-narodowa/tarcza-wschod-wzmocni-bezpieczenstwo-polski-i-wschodniej-flanki-nato. Viewed 12.04.2025.
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENCE (POLAND). East Shield National Deterrence and Defence Programme [online]. Available from: https://tarczawschod.wp.mil.pl/en/. Viewed 12.04.2025.
Parlament Europejski uznał projekt Tarcza Wschód jako flagowy projekt Unii [online]. March 2025. BiznesAlert.pl. Available from: https://biznesalert.pl/tarcza-wschod-unia-europejska-polska/. Viewed 12.04.2025.
Polska wycofuje się z konwencji ottawskiej. Jest reakcja Rosji [online]. Polstanews.pl. March 2025. Available from: https://www.polsatnews.pl/wiadomosc/2025-03-20/polska-wycofuje-sie-z-konwencji-ottawskiej-jest-reakcja-rosji/. Viewed 14.04.2025.
SINGLETON, Fred. The Myth of 'Finlandisation'. International Affairs, 1981, vol. 57, nº2, pp. 270-285). ISSN: 0020-5850. Available from: https://doi.org/10.2307/2619164. Viewed 8.04.2025.
ŚLIWA, Zdzisław. Od odstraszania do obrony - wyzwania bezpieczeństwa państw bałtyckich. Bezpieczeństwo Narodowe, 2023, vol.43, nº2, pp. 9-40. ISSN: 1896-4923.
SZEWCZENKO, Oleksandr. 2023. Polityka państw zachodnich wobec Rosji w latach 2007-2014. Appeasement czy niedocenianie? [online]. Trimarium. Available from: https://trimarium.pl/projekt/polityka-panstw-zachodnich-wobec-rosji-w-latach-2007-2014-appeasement-czy-niedocenianie/. Viewed 12.04.2025.
TCHANTOURIDZÉ, Lasha. The Aftermath of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War: Appeasement of Russia and the War in Ukraine. Journal of Peace and War Studies, 2022, nº4, pp. 77-94. ISSN: 2641-841X.
The Baltic States are building a defensive line against Russia. Will they do it quickly enough? [online]. April 2025. Infa.lt. Available from: https://infa.lt/122836/baltijos-salys-kuria-gynybine-linija-pries-rusija-ar-jos-tai-padarys-pakankamai-greitai/. Viewed 14.04.2025.
TOCCI, Nathalie. Europe and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: Where does the EU stand?. LSE Public Policy Review, 2023, vol. 3, nº1, pp. 1-7. E-ISSN: 2633-4046. Available from: https://doi.org/10.31389/lseppr.79. Viewed 12.04.2025.
WESSEL, Ramses A. The European Union's Foreign and Security Policy: A Legal Institutional Perspective. The Hague: Kluwer Law International, 1999, pp. 1-2. ISBN: 90-411-1265-0 (HB).
EU legislation
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. Resolution on the White Paper on the Future of European Defence. Available from: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-10-2025-0146_EN.html. Viewed 18.04.2025.
EUROPEAN UNION. Article 42 of the Treaty on European Union (consolidated version). Official Journal C 115, 09/05/2008, pp. 38–39. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/teu_2008/art_42/oj/eng. Viewed 18.04.2025.
EUROPEAN UNION. Directive (EU) 2022/2555 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union, amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 and Directive (EU) 2018/1972, and repealing Directive (EU) 2016/1148 (NIS 2 Directive). Official Journal L 333, 27.12.2022, pp. 80–152. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2022/2555/oj/eng. Viewed 18.04.2025.
EUROPEAN UNION. Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 November 2019 on the European Border and Coast Guard and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1052/2013 and (EU) 2016/1624. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32019R1896. Viewed 18.04.2025.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Krzysztof KACZMAREK, Mirosław KARPIUK, Jarosław KOSTRUBIEC

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who published in the journal agree to the following terms:
- The Authors grant the Journal the right of first publication, and other non-exclusive publishing rights, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which allows the sharing of work with recognition of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to take on additional contracts separately, non-exclusive distribution of the version of the paper published in this journal (ex .: publish in an institutional repository or as a chapter in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post and distribute their work online (eg .: in institutional repositories or on their website) at any point before or during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as increase the impact and the citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
RJP does not apply submission, publication or any other fees of any nature. Its articles are open access, with the goal of disseminating scientific knowledge and the debate of legal topics in the area of Legal Sciences.


