It takes two to tango! Belgium, Europe and work-life balance

Philippe Reyniers, European University Institute
Pascale Vielle, Université Catholique de Louvain

Abstract

Today, national and European levels of governance must move in close embrace. This article concerns the usages of European political resources by Belgian actors in the making of family-friendly policies. The history of policy changes that took place in Belgium over the last 20 years in these matters benefit from the analogy with tango. Like tango dancers, Belgium and Europe seem to enjoy a close intimacy. They regularly exchange the roles of leader and follower and there is no room for a relationship of master and servant. Like tango again, the Belgian case questions work-life balance in the view of gender equality.