LilMtnCbn
06-23-2004, 08:52 AM
http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/040622162450.mhq7p3s0
EU congatulates Romania on new adoption law
22 June 2004
EU enlargement commissioner Guenter Verheugen on Tuesday congratulated Romania
for a new law restricting the possibility for foreigners to adopt Romanian
children.
Verheugen called for the law, which parliament voted last week, to be strictly
applied in order to bring Romania in line with European Union legislation.
"This law is very clear. International adoption is now possible under very
strict conditions," Verheugen told a press conference.
"Therefore this new legal situation has to be fully implemented to meet
international legislation," he said.
The Romanian parliament voted last week to severely restrict the possibility
for foreigners to adopt Romanian children, drawing criticism from US officials
who argue that international adoption is vital for hundreds of orphaned and
abandoned children.
The parliament's decision follows years of pressure from the European Union,
which is concerned that Romania's adoption system is open to abuse by
child-traffickers.
Bucharest placed a moratorium on international adoptions four years ago but
hundreds of adoptions out of Romania proceeded despite the move, including more
than 300 by parents in the United States.
Verheugen said, "We are examining some international adoptions and if there is
any evidence of irregularities, we will take a decision in order to find a
remedy."
The new law, which still has to be promulgated by President Ion Iliescu, states
that adoption would be considered as a "last resort" for orphaned or abandoned
children, and that Romanian couples seeking to adopt children would be given
priority over foreign nationals.
"This text, which was written with the help of independent European Union
experts, is in line with the Geneva convention on the rights of children," said
Gabriela Coman, head of the national agency in charge of child protection.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
EU congatulates Romania on new adoption law
22 June 2004
EU enlargement commissioner Guenter Verheugen on Tuesday congratulated Romania
for a new law restricting the possibility for foreigners to adopt Romanian
children.
Verheugen called for the law, which parliament voted last week, to be strictly
applied in order to bring Romania in line with European Union legislation.
"This law is very clear. International adoption is now possible under very
strict conditions," Verheugen told a press conference.
"Therefore this new legal situation has to be fully implemented to meet
international legislation," he said.
The Romanian parliament voted last week to severely restrict the possibility
for foreigners to adopt Romanian children, drawing criticism from US officials
who argue that international adoption is vital for hundreds of orphaned and
abandoned children.
The parliament's decision follows years of pressure from the European Union,
which is concerned that Romania's adoption system is open to abuse by
child-traffickers.
Bucharest placed a moratorium on international adoptions four years ago but
hundreds of adoptions out of Romania proceeded despite the move, including more
than 300 by parents in the United States.
Verheugen said, "We are examining some international adoptions and if there is
any evidence of irregularities, we will take a decision in order to find a
remedy."
The new law, which still has to be promulgated by President Ion Iliescu, states
that adoption would be considered as a "last resort" for orphaned or abandoned
children, and that Romanian couples seeking to adopt children would be given
priority over foreign nationals.
"This text, which was written with the help of independent European Union
experts, is in line with the Geneva convention on the rights of children," said
Gabriela Coman, head of the national agency in charge of child protection.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
