WRITTEN QUESTION E-1225/02 by Alejandro Cercas (PSE) to the Council. International adoptions in Romania.
Date: 2002-04-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Romania, Spain, accession to the European Union, child protection, international adoption

C 309 E/88

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

Furthermore, 19 adoption requests have recently gone before the Romanian courts, 17 of them for US
parents, a fact which has caused indignation amongst the Spanish families referred to above, because of
the inequality of treatment it presupposes.

Since Romania is a candidate for EU membership, whose accession to the Community has been queried
thanks to the adoption issue, what steps does the Council intend to take to get the Romanian Government
to regularise the situation of legally processed adoption requests from Community families, particularly in
Spain?

(2002/C 309 E/102)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1225/02

by Alejandro Cercas (PSE) to the Council

(29 April 2002)

Subject: International adoptions in Romania

In view of the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on Romanian accession to the European
Union, and the Romanian Government’s emergency order of 7 December 2001:

1. What is the current state of affairs with regard to the international adoption procedures which had
been suspended, and in particular, which cases are covered by the situation described in Article 1(1) of
the Emergency Order of 7 December 2001?

2. What is the actual deadline for the resumption of international adoptions?

3. What are the possibilities that adoption procedures which were in progress in Romania before June

2001 might be resumed, for example those involving 11 families in Extremadura?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1125/02 and E-1225/02

(30 September 2002)

The Council is aware of the sensitive nature of this issue and of the distress caused to Community families
whose applications to adopt Romanian children had already been legally processed when the Romanian
Government announced a moratorium on international adoptions in October 2001.

It is worth recalling that the suspension of international adoptions by the Romanian Government was a
response to the concerns expressed by, amongst others,
the European Commission over serious
shortcomings in Romanian legislation and practice regarding such adoptions. The revised Accession
Partnership for Romania, that was approved by the Council on 28 January 2002, stipulated that Romania
should ‘maintain the moratorium on international adoption in place until new legislation compatible with
the best interests of the child and Romania’s international obligations is adopted and the administrative
capacity to implement the new legislation is ensured’.

Whilst maintaining the general moratorium, in December 2001 the Romanian Government took measures
to enable the completion of adoption procedures for those cases that were already subject to court
procedures when international adoptions were suspended. According to the latest available information, all
cases (including those of Community families) that had been decided upon by the courts or were still in
court at the time when international adoptions were suspended in October 2001, have now been settled.

At the same time, the Romanian Government took measures to forward to the courts other cases that can
be judged as exceptional circumstances. A total of 50 such cases have now been forwarded to the courts.

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/89

In April 2002 an independent working group presented a report on inter-country adoptions to the
Romanian Government. Prime Minister Nastase has welcomed the report as a basis for future policy on
international adoptions and has indicated that the package of laws proposed by the independent working
group will be adopted by the end of 2002. In the meantime, steps will be taken to improve administrative
capacity in order to implement this legislation.

The European Union, while taking note of these positive developments, will continue to monitor the
situation closely and to address the issue in relevant fora, notably within the bodies established by the
Europe Agreement between the EU and Romania.

(2002/C 309 E/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1138/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(22 April 2002)

Subject: The shift in Israeli government policy from peaceful coexistence with an equal Palestinian state to

ongoing domination

1.
Does the Council agree that since the Sharon government came to power in Israel by evoking ethnic
differences, the relationship between Israel and the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in 1967 has
altered greatly and, instead of the previously agreed development towards an independent Palestinian state,
the Israeli government has unilaterally moved in the opposite direction, which is leading to the dismantling
of Palestinian self-government, the violent political purging of the Palestinian population, the cutting of
contacts with other states, further growth of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories and the destruction
of ports, airports, roads and buildings?

2.
Does the Council agree that this change does not come particularly or solely from the natural need
of the people of Israel for security but rather from the political powers within Israel, which always took
the view that these territories should be made a permanent part of the Israeli state and that where
necessary the existing Palestinian population should be expelled or encouraged to leave, and are trying to
establish irreversible facts in their favour?

3. What is the cost of the destruction resulting from Israeli actions, since the Sharon government took
office, to projects for improvements in the Palestinian territories financed or cofinanced by contributions
from the EU or individual Member States?

4.
In view of the altered situation, is the Council prepared to make it clear that any policy based on the
inequality of the two peoples, on maintaining political and economic inferiority of the Palestinians, and on
colonisation and annexation can only lead to Israel’s isolation from the European Union?

Reply

(30 September 2002)

It is not for the Council to speculate on the motivations of the Israeli Government. But the Council has
stated repeatedly that there can be no military solution to the conflict and has called upon the parties to
move towards a political resolution of their disputes based on UNSCRs 242 and 338, and the principle of
land for peace. It looks forward to the day when two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within
secure and recognised borders, both enjoying close and warm relations with the European Union.

The damages incurred to Palestinian infrastructure financed in whole or part by the EU, including damages
incurred during recent IDF action, are in the process of being assessed.