The European Union and Health Policy. The 'chaordic' Dynamics of Intergration
Résumé
The precise impact of the EU on health policies is difficult to assess because health policy constitutes a complex policy field, which is part of statutorysocial security schemes as well as of large competitive markets. Europeanization in is this filed results from indirect impacts, rather than from direct Treaty-based provisions or from a clear-cut sectoral policy. Yet the EU exercises an increasingly strong influence over health policy in member states, justified by internal market imperatives as well as public health requirements. The consequence is a growing EU health policy arena, which is characterized by new,complex and often overlapping responsibilities between the national and supranational levels. While the Europeanization process is a multiple, often accidental one, its effects tend to be systematic. This article analyses the various components of EU health policy and proposes a theorietical conceptualization of the Europeanization of health policies.