The harmonization of family law in Europe: the place of Lithuania?

Abstract

This paper aims at evaluation of the place of Lithuania, in the context of harmonization of family law in Europe. Despite the claims of national uniqueness, family law can be seen as the area of private law which had the common core system in the past. The medieval (ecclesiastic) law on family and sex dominated and possibly still claims a large share of influence in formation of laws in European states. On the basis of historical analysis and comparative research methods, the author attempts to evaluate the place of Lithuania in the context of top-down harmonization (during the Middle Ages and the Soviet Union times). The author finds that Lithuania, although being somehow on the margins of Europe, went through similar processes of harmonization as other states. The last period of the Lithuanian independence (which was acquired more than two decades ago) features a war between progressive and conservative trends. The paper is limited with broad comparison of national systems only and does not analyze the influence of international law, which has also been significant.