Viewing cable 06PARIS2273, FRANCE RESIGNED ON PENDING ADOPTION CASES IN

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C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002273  SIPDIS  SIPDIS  E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2016 TAGS: PREL FR EUN CASC ROSUBJECT: FRANCE RESIGNED ON PENDING ADOPTION CASES IN ROMANIA  REF: A. STATE 43700       ¶B. BUCHAREST 536  Classified By: PolMC Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 (B & D).  ¶1.  (C) Deputy PolCouns discussed reftel points March 28 with MFA European Affairs desk officer (filling in for an absent Romania desk officer) Virginie Bioteau March 28, who requested and received a copy of talking points for the purpose of coordinating an informed MFA response.  She understood clearly the gist of our request to press the Romanian government on pending adoption cases in the absence of EC Commission willingness to do so.  Deputy PolCouns noted that Romanian adoptions was a subject of growing discussion in the European Parliament and that French MPs were also becoming engaged.  ¶2.  (C) During a subsequent discussions on April 3, Bioteau informed us that the French MFA had received a letter from a French adoption association and was in the process of preparing a response that was currently being vetted in the office of the foreign minister.  She undertook to get back to us following a definition of the GOF position through this vehicle.  Bioteau commented that FM Douste-Blazy has been reluctant to criticize openly the Romanian adoption legislation it had been passed in connection with Romania's EU accession negotiations.  That said, she assured us, Douste-Blazy had attempted to persuade Romanian officials to study the pending cases.  ¶3.  (C) Deputy PolCouns made further inquires on April 4 and 6, using the latter occasion to inform Bioteau of our receipt of ref B.  Bioteau indicated that the GOF -- either through its Embassy in Bucharest or in Paris -- had received a similar letter.  In a subsequent discussion with acting DAS-equivalent Marine de Carne de Trecesson de Coetlogon, Carne expressed French disappointment with the Romanian decision (which she said would also be a bitter disappointment for French adoption associations) but said that there was little France could do.  The Commission would be making its final recommendations on Romanian EU accession within the next month, and Romania wanted to be able to demonstrate its rigor and responsiveness to the EU, especially in the areas of trafficking and corruption.  The problem for France, given these EU requirements, was that the "EU could not afford to be in contradiction with itself." That said, France had, most recently in the person of Cooperation Minister Girardin, raised the issue informally with Romanian authorities.  ¶4.  (C) Per ref B, Deputy PolCouns asked whether France had confidence in the explanation provided by Romania.  Carne responded that the decisions appeared in conformity with the law and appeared to have the interests of the children in mind.  She suggested that the situation in Romania itself had changed in recent years, with the results that families were now prepared to welcome back children they had formerly relinquished.  Deputy PolCouns noted Amembassy Bucharest's concerns about the transparency of the Working Group process.  Carne agreed that there could be more transparency.  Deputy PolCouns concluded with the observation that the U.S. would be considering next steps and that he looked forward to future discussions of the issue.  Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm  Stapleton