The European Union (EU), as a unique political body, can be said to be committed to promoting gender equality in a supranational environment, and this includes concern for enabling women and men to reconcile their occupational and family responsibilities arising from the care of children. While EU member states share a broad legal framework and have signed up to the same social standards in relation to motherhood, much variation is still to be found between them as a result of historical, cultural, and continuing institutional difference.

Some countries, particularly those with a pronatalist history such as France and Sweden, have extensive legislation facilitating the combining of work and family life for mothers. Others, such as Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany, offer large financial supports to mothers ...