The Geopolitical Transformation of the EU in the Era of Polycrisis: Hybrid Adaptation of a Compound Polity After 2022

This article examines the geopolitical transformation of the European Union within the context of polycrisis and intensified strategic rivalry following the events of 2022. It addresses the question of whether the EU’s response to contemporary crises represents a mere temporary adjustment triggered by an emergency, or rather a more permanent reconfiguration of European integration. Methodologically, the paper employs a qualitative research design combining conceptual analysis, interdisciplinary theoretical synthesis, and document-based comparative process-tracing of selected post-2022 policy responses, including sanctions policy, energy governance, and geoeconomic industrial policy. The analysis demonstrates that the EU has not evolved into a coherent, sovereign geopolitical actor, but rather into a more strategically adaptive and selectively integrated compound polity. This transformation is characterised by differentiated institutional deepening, expanded executive coordination, and growing tensions between efficiency, legitimacy, and democratic accountability. The article contributes to debates on European integration by conceptualising its current trajectory as a hybrid adaptation to a fragmented global order.