Rodinná politika ve vztahu k Evropské unii

The article deals with the comparison of a wide range of family policy in different European countries from the point of view of their development and current status. It illustrates how difficult it is to set up criteria for such comparison, and refers to some attempts to develop “models” of family policy in Europe, using the example of Jean-Claude Barber’s concept. Barbiers sees various family policies in Europe as pans of a spectrum ranging from countries implementing the most positive approach towards the family policy (Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg) to those on the other edge – Britain and Ireland. Spain, Portugal and Italy have developed specific “southern” models of family policy. The author notes that recently there has been insufficient convergence in the field of family policy in Europe, and, although many recommendations have been produced by the Council of Europe, no substantial change in this approach can be expected in the nearest future. European situation is compared with the development and recent achievements in family policy in the Czech Republic. Based on international sociological research data, an attempt has been made to interpret the resources of contrasting apprehension of the role of State in family policy between the member states of the EU on the one side and former socialist countries on the other.