Left Behind? Advocacy Lessons from the National Regions European Citizens’ Initiative on Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in the European Union

Abstract This study examines the challenges minority communities face in using European Union mechanisms to contest alleged economic discrimination. It focuses on the National Regions European Citizens’ Initiative launched by stakeholders from Szeklerland, a Hungarian minority region in Romania, to urge the European Commission to address concerns over cohesion policy fund allocation. Using a theory-driven single-case design, the research combines economic data, legal analysis, and advocacy materials. County-level GDP per capita trends are triangulated with European Court of Justice jurisprudence and grassroots initiatives, framed against the Sustainable Development Goals. Findings reveal that the EU’s cohesion policy oversight is structurally ill-equipped to uncover or remedy discriminatory practices. The NUTS II statistical aggregation conceals intraregional disparities, and institutional responses to minority claims remain weak. The article focuses on the nexus between regional development and minority rights, proposing reforms to facilitate fairer distribution of funds and ensure the protection of cultural and linguistic diversity.