Cross-Border Adoptions

Every child deserves to grow up in a happy family, and so adoption is important to ensure that right is extended to all children. However, the current system of cross border adoption is far from perfect. A recent case of cross-border adoption, where eight Croatian nationals were detained in Zambia after arriving to collect adopted children from the Democratic Republic of Congo, has opened many questions: How can parents be sure that children put up for adoption have done so legally? Does the current regulatory framework do enough to protect children? And what can European authorities do to support parents who want to adopt legally? In some EU Member States legal protection related to intercountry adoptions is lacking, whilst in others it is simply not implemented effective supervision.

If the right to a family life is at the centre of European values, then its time for Europe to act on adoption policy.