As Britain's leading comparative Family Law scholar, Jens Scherpe demonstrates his considerable knowledge and expertise in this, the final book, in the series on European Family Law. Drawing on the three earlier works in the series (of which he is the editor) Scherpe starts by convincingly arguing that there is such a thing as European Family Law and then examines the concept from different perspectives, namely, institutional and organic, and horizontal, vertical and individual European Family Law. He ends by speculating about future developments. Written in an easy-to-read yet not unchallenging style The Present and Future of European Family Law is a 'must read' for all those interested in Family Law particularly as the subject can no longer be sensibly studied purely from a domestic angle.'
- N.V. Lowe, Cardiff University, UKThe Present and Future of European Family Law explores the essence of European family law - and what its future may be. It compares and analyzes existing laws and court decisions, identifies trends in legislation and jurisprudence, and also forecasts (and in some cases proposes) future developments. It establishes that while there is, at present, no comprehensive European family law, elements of an 'institutional European family law' have been created through decisions by the European Court on Human Rights and by the Court of Justice of the European Union as well as other EU instruments. At the same time an 'organic European family law' is beginning to emerge. The laws in many European jurisdictions have developed similarly and have 'grown together', not only as a result of the aforementioned institutional pressures, but also as a result of societal developments, and comparable reactions to medical and societal advances and changes. Hence there already is a body of institutional and organic European family law, and it will continue to grow.

This book, and the others in the set, will serve as an invaluable resource for anyone interested in family law. It will be of particular use to students and scholars of comparative and international family law, as well as family law practitioners.