Families in EU-15: policies, challenges and opportunities

Abstract

"This is the final publication from the EU Observatory on the Social Situation, Demography and the Family regarding developments concerning families in the EU15 member countries. It comprises the final reports, giving the essentials of the social situation of the family from the point of view of experts from the EU 15 countries before enlargement. The country reports in this volume cover different fields and are integrated in a synthesis report. All European countries face similar problems but these problems vary in their importance.Thus fertility is discussed as well as family forms, including leaving the family household, generational relationships, relationships between family members, especially the situation of young people. Children and the elderly, family policies, measures for reconciling work and family, pension and health systems are also among the numerous issues raised." (author's abstract)