A matter of scope: regional strategies in EU matters from the viewpoint of citizens in twelve European regions

Regional strategies in European affairs can manifest in complex patterns, involving different levels (regional, national, European), employing different tools (delineation and cooperation), and targeting different beneficiaries. Using data from a citizens’ survey in 12 European regions (N = 8,700) in six member states (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Poland, Spain), we aim to characterize different strategies in relation to citizens’ preferences regarding the focus of representation by regional MPs. We identify two regional strategies from the viewpoint of citizens: delineation, which emphasizes the limiting of EU influence and prioritization of regional or national interests, and cooperation, which stresses interregional collaboration and European perspectives. Citizens preferring narrow, territorially bound representation favor delineation, while those endorsing multiple representational foci support cooperation. National contexts prove to be influential in our analysis, but two regions display slightly divergent patterns. The findings highlight how citizens’ representational preferences shape distinct yet coexisting strategies of regional engagement.