is the liaison between family organisations and the European Union ... Set up in 1958 as a European Action Committee within the International Union of Family Organisation (IUFO), COFACE gradually acquired its autonomy. In 1979 it became a non-profit-making international association under the name of Confederation of Family Organisation in the European Community. COFACE is a non-political and non-denominational organisation made up of international family organisations of either a general or specific nature. ... COFACE is open to all national organisations representing families or active on family issues. Organisations from the E.U. Member States are full members. Organisations from countries which have applied for membership of the Union or which are linked to it through association agreements are respectively observer members or associate members. COFACE also has a number of corresponding members, notably research institutes focusing on family issues.