Finnish Policies for Reconciling Work and Family and the Usages of Europe

Abstract

Drawing on the ‘usages of Europe’ approach, this paper examines the Europeanisation of work/family reconciliation policies in Finland, an EU member since 1995. More specifically, the paper analyses the ways in which EU resources have been used by national actors to shape reconciliation policies. The empirical materials consist of Finnish policy texts on the topic published between 1980 and 2009. It is argued that, while Europe has rarely been referred to in the revision of already-established reconciliation policies, i.e. childcare services and family leave benefits, Europe has played an important role in the emergence of new, labour market-oriented reconciliation policies. Although the cognitive and normative inspirations for the shifting of reconciliation to the domain of labour market policy may have come from various sources, the financial and legal resources of the EU have provided Finnish actors with a concrete means of introducing new policy instruments, such as work/family projects in organisations and incentives for the more equal use of parental leave, as well as new economic policy goals. Overall, the goals, domains, instruments, and timing of Finnish reconciliation policies have followed those of the EU.