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

meet the recently introduced regulations on state aid. This would represent a positive incentiveand bring much needed transparency in film industry financing. However, it was likely to provokenegative reactions from film directors and producers, because for many decades a direct statesubsidy was almost the only source of funding for feature films. This is a typical example ofindirect impact on cultural policy, in which the indirect influence of harmonization of laws insome other policy area – in this instance, state aid – has been changing the environment forcultural production.Status of the artist:free movement of people, social securityAn overview of existing literature as well as insights picked up from various conference reportsand the activities of networks and professional organizations has shown that the questions offree movement of people and social security regulations have been debated mostly in the contextof enhancing artists’ mobility in the cultural sector. Audéoud made a clear distinction between`obstacles’ and `hindrances’ to the mobility of artists (Audéoud 2002). According to the resultsof his study there are comparatively few rules and practices preventing cultural workers and theirproducts from moving around the Community area which can be said to constitute real obstaclesto the freedom of movement.More numerous, however, are the shortcomings or other constraints which hamper or are adisincentive to mobility, without actually constituting an obstacle (Audéoud ibid). Audéoud’sresearch showed that numerous obstacles existed already among `old’ member states, and that allkinds of artists and cultural workers from the new member states have had to deal with additionalrestrictions to opportunities for their nationals to obtain work in the EU.The questionnaire yielded a range of responses when it asked, `Can artists and cultural workersfrom your country freely obtain work in other EU countries without any restrictions?’.`The issue is complex. On one side artists and cultural workers through workgrants and scholarships, may work and study abroad. What’s more, there is apossibility, except getting money for journeys, to get a residency status.On the other side, some countries have restricted the possibility for Polishcitizens to obtain work in their country for the future few years (this appliesto all professions).’(Poland)54Part 2 The impact of EU enlargement: results of the survey of researchers and policy-makers