Why we need European cultural policies: the impact of EU ...

The first one is a `macro’ dimension of policy, which aims to determine the general goals andparameters of different policies. The other dimension consists of determining the specific detailsand contents of these macro policies. In designing this policy, which Sedelmeier called `mesapolicy’ – it is necessary to have the active involvement of experts in specific policy fields, who cantranslate the goals of macro policy into concrete policy measures and instruments.In order to translate general priorities into concrete policy instruments, it is necessary not only todecide what instruments to apply but also how and when to apply them. This entails an extremelycomplex process of decision-making that has to simultaneously take into account different policyareas. In other words, this `macro’ policy consists of a series of `mesa’ policies that are in factdefining the content of policies and enabling the monitoring of the results of their application(Sedelmeier in Wallace and Wallace ibid).If we apply this division to our field of interest, it is possible to argue that, in cultural policy, theEuropean Union did not have a clear vision of a `macro’ level of policy which made it impossibleto design `mesa’ policies. Numerous studies were undertaken on the impact of the enlargementon a whole range of policies, both in old and new member states,19 to anticipate positive andnegative consequences and eventually to suggest measures that could directly influence theirconsequences. Even though there has been more intense discussion about cultural aspects ofenlargement during the last decade, there have been no studies assessing overall changes incultural policies occurring as a consequence of enlargement, nor has there been much debateabout a specific methodology that could be used for this type of research.Wallace described five major challenges to research into policy-making processes in theEuropean Union and evoked Puchala’s famous article 20 about researching European integration(Wallace H, in Wallace and Wallace [2000]).The first research challenge is to avoid the trap of forming general conclusions by mechanisticallyapplying methods arising from the analysis of one sector to all others. Another is to resist thetendency to simplify policies, both at EU and national level, in order to make it easier to compare.The next challenge is to the researchers and their skills; they should not limit themselves toonly one research tool but should be prepared to use a range of methods. The fourth possiblechallenge is to be able to clearly distinguish between research into European integration asa broad phenomenon and research into policy-making within the European Union. The finalchallenge calls for an ability to assess the vast policy-making process even as it is continuouslychanging and developing.Wallace suggested that research into the policy-making process in the European Union could bebased on at least three disciplines: international relations, comparative policy and policy analysis(Wallace ibid). It is clear that all three fields of study can be applied to research into the impact ofenlargement on culture.26Part 1 The conceptual frame of the study