Forming family in the European Union: New social risks and welfare responses

Social transformations have brought new risks for family formation which national welfare states have tried to address with varied success. Analyzing Spain and Sweden's historical legacies, this essay argues that they have played a determining role in their national welfare states' ability to adapt to the new social risks. The relative success of Sweden and failure of Spain to resolve the conflicts facing family formation underscores the diversity of national welfare policy toward families within the European Union. Facing this national diversity, this essay examines how the EU develops coordination and convergence strategies for its member-states in female employment, reconciliation, and gender equality. Although less clear in Sweden, a moderate "Europeanization effect" of family policy appears to be emerging in Spain. This implies that as national welfare states attempt to assimilate EU family policy targets, the EU gains greater potential to influence social policy.