EU Family Law

Adopting a practical and realistic approach, the course will equip participants with knowledge on:

• Fundamental concepts of family law.
• The legal framework governing EU family law.
• How EU legal instruments assist national authorities in handling cross-border family law cases and how citizens benefit from enhanced cooperation.
• EU legal instruments related to divorce, parental responsibility, maintenance, and the property regime of legalised couples.

What defines a ‘family’ in the European Union?

The concept of family in the European Union is constantly evolving, reflecting increasingly diverse structures and societal values. The traditional notion of a family – a married, opposite-sex couple living with their biological children under the same roof – has long been shifting.

This course will explore the rapid and substantial changes in family structures, concepts, and legal frameworks that have emerged across Europe in recent years. Marriage and registered partnership laws have undergone significant transformations, including the increasing recognition of same-sex marriages, the acceptance of private divorce, and the growing legal protection of partnerships outside of marriage.

The primary objective of this course is to introduce participants to the core principles, key institutions, and major regulatory issues in family law, both from the perspectives of EU Member States and the European Union itself.

Through expert-led presentations and discussions, participants will gain valuable insights into the evolving legal landscape of family law in the EU.

• Divorce, matrimonial matters, parental responsibility maintenance, and the property regime of legalised couples in the context of national legislations across Member States.
• The European Union’s regulatory response and the role of the Court of Justice of the European Union in ensuring a uniform interpretation of relevant Regulations.
• Cross-border child relocation cases, one of the most complex and challenging issues in family law.

• To familiarise participants with family law institutions and highlight the key differences among Member States’ legal systems in addressing family law matters.
• To provide insight into the legal and policy considerations underpinning the development of European Union legislation in the field of family law.

The course will be structured around a combination of lectures and case studies, incorporating the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union to highlight its role in ensuring the uniform interpretation of EU Regulations.