From the research: What do regionalist parties think about the EU?

This paper addresses the European dimension of minority nationalism, a distinct debate in territorial politics and European studies. Sub-state minorities (also called stateless nations) seek to expand and protect the self-government of their regions (ranging from more autonomy in a specific area to independence).

Regionalist parties, the principal actors behind this agenda, have embraced European integration because of its capacity to re-distribute state authority in two directions: upwards by shifting (supranationalising) state competencies to Brussels and downwards by decentralising state competencies to the regions. These simultaneous processes have enhanced regional self-government, winning the support of regionalist parties: While autonomists want deeper integration to reinforce this empowerment effect, that European integration is weakening the disliked central states has convinced the separatist ones that sufficient self-government is possible without formal independence.

We know what regionalist parties think of and want from the European Union (EU). However,  scholars have typically reduced their EU positioning to one general position. To overcome this oversimplification, this paper re-evaluates regionalist parties’ EU attitudes by capturing the entire content and nature of their EU-relevant reflections at a given moment. It draws on floor speeches in regional assemblies, an original data type offering detail unequalled by alternative sources.

Empirically, the paper analyses Plaid Cymru, Femu a Corsica and Süd-Tiroler Freiheit, three cases with different self-government goals from three territorial contexts, over a recent five-year period (2016–21). The parties adopt a distinct position on multiple EU-related issues. Moreover, their positions vary in the degree of EU support, being Europhile on some matters while Eurosceptic on others. Most importantly, the parties form their positions based on how well the EU (or European integration more broadly) serves everyday regional policymaking and sub-state minority protection; the empowerment effect through authority re-distribution is of minor importance to them.As every territorial context compels the parties to address unique issues, their EU positioning is much more differentiated and contextual than previously thought.

The paper is available at: [https://doi.org/10.1080/21622671.2023.2204910]. The author of the paper is Ing. Michal Strnad from the Prague University of Economics and Business.