European inventory of
societal values of culture

Vlassis - European Commission, trade agreements and diversity of cultural expressions

Vlassis, A. (2016). European Commission, trade agreements and diversity of cultural expressions: Between autonomy and influence. European Journal of Communication, 31(4): 446-461.

The article discusses the implementation of the United Nations’s 2005 Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE) within the European Union (EU) and its influence on cultural policies. The text highlights several key points:

▪ The European Commission's involvement: The European Commission plays a significant role in promoting the CDCE norms both within the EU and internationally. It uses regional cooperation and trade tools to transpose the CDCE norms and establish itself as a foreign policy actor in cultural affairs.
▪ Lack of social support: The article suggests that the Commission's actions lack strong support from EU cultural organisations and professionals. This disconnect constrains the effectiveness of the EU's foreign cultural policy and the Commission's influence in external cultural affairs.
▪ Interpretations of CDCE scope: There are divergent interpretations of the scope of the CDCE. The Commission tends to broaden its interpretation, encompassing economic competitiveness and innovation policies concerning digital cultural services. However, this position faces criticism from some members of the European Council and the European Parliament, who emphasise compliance with CDCE norms for EU audiovisual and cultural policy development.
▪ Balance between intergovernmentalism and community action: The influence of the Commission is influenced by the interplay between member states' interests and the Commission's role in decision-making. While the Commission has autonomy, member states such as France retain decision-making powers, particularly those with strong interests in cultural affairs.

Overall, the article underscores the complexities and challenges of implementing the CDCE within the EU context, including the role of the Commission, social support, divergent interpretations, and the balance between intergovernmentalism and community action. The author suggests the need for further research to analyse the policy process and the distribution of authority and power within the EU.