% ^i Win Europe lie Short oí OhiUren? Work Viewed from a ChildhoodPerspective Flashlights European Commission J advance social progress and to supporting both women and development. men in their roles, both at work The publication of the Family and within the family, while the Observer coincides with the Employment guidelines give an Although the Community has 10th anniversary of the important impetus to the no direct competence in the European Observatory on area of family policy, it has objective of reconciliation Family Matters. The between work and family life. increasingly turned its attention importance of this institution The social and political to examining and understandshould be duly acknowledged: situation has undergone ing the social and economic Because family policy remains implications of trends and profound changes in the past a national competence of the decade in Europe. New family change in society on families. EU-Member States, it is all the patterns and new concepts of Within the framework of its more important to monitor the role of men and women policy on equal opportunities and analyse developments for women and men, in have emerged. The European affecting families and family particular, the Commission has Union has an important role to European society is changing. policies on a Union-wide play in identifying the undertaken several initiatives Couples, children, marriage, level.