The present paper argues that the concept of ‘community’ can be analytically captured through boundary encounters of individuals at the micro-level. For the purpose of validating this argument, the project investigates how the European Union (EU) as a macro-social ‘community of values’ is (re)produced by way of EUropean diplomatic missions at its borders, that is in its neighbouring state Ukraine. As a community-creating device then, practice among diplomats from both the EU’s member states as well as from the European External Action Service (EEAS) is examined as to learn whether and, if so, how they come to ‘represent’ the EU’s macro-community. Ukraine is chosen as the site of struggle for the constitution of the EU’s community as to highlight the role of the ‘border’ in enhancing the EU diplomats’ awareness for ‘their’ community. An analysis of interviews conducted with senior EU diplomats posted in Kyiv, Ukraine, will support my argument.
