Being a borderlander and belonging to a minority, borders have always fascinated me and have shaped my academic career. The fact that territory is divided into states, that often don’t match cultural or linguistic communities has influenced both my personal life and my academic interest. Reflecting on physical and mental borders and studying minorities has always been intriguing. What do people make of borders, especially minorities? How can states and regions cooperate and integrate to overcome exclusionary nationalistic paradigms? What role can the EU play in these processes? These are just some questions that I am excited to explore in my research and the B-Shapes project.