CONTEMPORARY TENDENCIES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FAMILY LAW SYSTEMS AND HARMONIZATION OF FAMILY LAW IN EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

In this paper the author analysis the basic dilemmas related to the process of harmonization and codification of European legislatures in the area of family law. He offers a review of the most recent activities of the European institutions in this area as well as a short historical review of the legal regulations of maritial and family relations in European countries. The author believes that, due to the specificity of family law, which largely depends on the historical development, culture, traditions and customs of different countries, the most appropriate approach at this stage of European integration would be to gradually harmonize all European systems of family law, and not to seek creation of a single European codification in the area of family law that would uniformly regulate family relations in all European countries.