Proceedings of the fifth conference of the Commission on European Family Law on "Family Law and Culture in Europe: Developments, Challenges and Opportunities" held in Bonn, Germany in August of 2013.

The CEFL has developed a comprehensive and original set of rules which may be a source of inspiration for legislating the rights and duties of couples who have not formalised their relationship. In their provisions on specific issues, the Principles opt for workable solutions which aim to avoid unnecessary hardship and disputes.

The Principles of European Family Law - drafted by the Commission on European Family Law (CEFL) - contain models which may be used for the harmonization of family law in Europe. This book contains the Principles regarding property relations between spouses. In these Principles, the CEFL has developed an all-inclusive set of rules for two matrimonial property regimes: the participation in acquisitions and the community of acquisitions. Both regimes have been put on an equal footing. Each matrimonial property regime, whether it functions as a default or as an optional regime, is strongly connected with the rights and duties of the spouses and the possibility for them to make a marital property agreement. These issues have also been addressed by including two common chapters on the general rights and duties of spouses and on marital property agreements, which are to be applied regardless of which of the regimes applies. (Series: European Family Law - Vol. 33)

This book provides an overview of the developments in family law in Europe during the last two millennia. It aims to examine the so-called 'cultural constraints argument', which suggests that family law is unsuitable for harmonisation because the family laws of the European countries are deeply imbedded in their unique national cultures and history. It follows the path of the greatest-ever harmonisation event in European legal history: the creation of the medieval canon family law, and shows how, under the impact of pan-European economic, cultural and ideological trends, medieval uniformity turned into present-day diversity. Everywhere in Europe the evolution of family law generally followed the same pattern - from a traditional restrictive family law, built upon communitarian, transpersonal premises, to a more permissive family law, based upon modern personalistic ideology - yet national differences seem not to be disappearing. It appears, however, that this has little to do with the

This volume contains detailed information concerning the law on parental responsibilities in twenty-two European jurisdictions. The expert members of the CEFL have drafted national reports on the basis of a detailed questionnaire. These national reports, together with the relevant legal provisions, are available on CEFL's web site (www.law.uu.nl/priv/cefl). This book integrates all the given answers in order to provide an overview and a straightforward simultaneous comparison of the different solutions chosen within the national systems. On the basis of this reliable and comprehensive comparative material the CEFL will be able to draft Principles of European Family Law regarding Parental Responsibilities.

Is the unification and harmonisation of (international) family law in Europe necessary? Is it feasible, desirable and possible? Reading the different contributions to this book may certainly inspire those who would like to find the right answers to these questions.