Letter refers to the upcoming press conference about a European Adoption Procedure. Hague offers cooperation.

Towards a European procedure for adoption

Strasbourg, 12.02.2008 – Despite the considerable volume of content of legal provisions on national and international adoption, the best interests of the child do not always take precedence over other considerations. Nevertheless, these legal arrangements decide the future of thousands of orphans and abandoned children every year.

Convinced of the need to create an adoption procedure common to all EU member states – in line with the recent adoption of a report on children's rights calling for such a mechanism – and to encourage international adoption where there is no national solution, a number of Members of the European Parliament, together with the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, have drawn up a joint declaration addressed to European ministers responsible for family affairs.

Jean-Marie Cavada (ALDE, France), Claire Gibault (ALDE, France) and Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, would like to invite you to a press conference at 3pm on Tuesday 19 February in the European Parliament press room (LOW) in Strasbourg where they will present this initiative.

Journalists who are not accredited with the EU are asked to make themselves known in advance in order to facilitate their access the building.

Towards a European procedure for adoption

Strasbourg, 12.02.2008 – Despite the considerable volume of content of legal provisions on national and international adoption, the best interests of the child do not always take precedence over other considerations. Nevertheless, these legal arrangements decide the future of thousands of orphans and abandoned children every year.

Convinced of the need to create an adoption procedure common to all EU member states – in line with the recent adoption of a report on children's rights calling for such a mechanism – and to encourage international adoption where there is no national solution, a number of Members of the European Parliament, together with the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, have drawn up a joint declaration addressed to European ministers responsible for family affairs.

Jean-Marie Cavada (ALDE, France), Claire Gibault (ALDE, France) and Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, would like to invite you to a press conference at 3pm on Tuesday 19 February in the European Parliament press room (LOW) in Strasbourg where they will present this initiative.

Journalists who are not accredited with the EU are asked to make themselves known in advance in order to facilitate their access the building.

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GRUDEN Matjaz Matjaz.GRUDEN@coe.int

22/02/2008

to XXXXXXXXX

With regard to the Council of Europe none. Mrs de Boer Buquicchio expressed her personal support for the initiative, even though she made it clear that its content corresponds to the CoE position. As to the press conference itself, it was organised by our colleagues in the EP and we had not been involved in the decisions on its format or participants.

sincerely,

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Roelie Post

8 Apr

to Catherine.Day, Simon.MORDUE

Dear Catherine, Simon,

Recently there is an increased push from the US side to impose their views and policies onto the EU. Just heard there is a Round Table at the EP this afternoon about the US Children in Adversity Initiative.

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