The European Consensus on Selected Socially Sensitive Issues as an Expression of the Evolution of European Political Systems

This article explores the notion of European consensus on selected socially sensitive issues – same-sex relationships, abortion, euthanasia, and assisted suicide. It investigates how these topics are addressed in Western and Central-Eastern Europe, with particular attention to the interplay between EU law and national legal and political frameworks. The research focuses on how customary change is negotiated through legal norms, political debate, and social values. It asks how EU integration and European case law influence national policymaking, and how differing historical and political contexts shape policy divergence. The study is based on a qualitative and comparative methodology, combining legal analysis of European case law, comparative review of national legislation and case law, and discourse analysis of EU institutional debates. Findings suggest that Western European countries generally implement more progressive reforms, while Central-Eastern European states proceed more cautiously, constrained by conservative traditions. The article concludes that while EU legal standards exert integrative pressure, local contexts continue to define the limits of normative convergence. A balance between liberal and conservative approaches is necessary to maintain both legal coherence and cultural pluralism within the EU.