Written question Cornelis de Jong (Jurnalul)

Source: www.europarl.europa.eu

Publication date: 6 January 2011

Here including reply

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=WQ&reference=E-2010-010915&language=EN

Parliamentary questions

6 January 2011

E-010915/2010

Question for written answer

to the Commission

Rule 117

Cornelis de Jong (GUE/NGL)

Subject: Manipulation by the Commission of a study on adoption

Answer(s)

1. What is the Commission's response to the report in the Romanian newspaper Jurnalul of 3 December (http://www.jurnalul.ro/special/anchete/battle-of-international-adoptions-reaches-peak-561690.html) claiming that the Commission put pressure on researchers to conclude that there is a need for a European Adoption Agency, although the underlying research does not support this conclusion?

2. Is it correct that the report's conclusion that there is a need for a European Adoption Agency is not supported by the underlying research? If so, is it correct that this (unsubstantiated) conclusion was reached due to the Commission exerting its influence as the body commissioning the study? If so, in what way does the Commission intend to rectify this error? And how does the Commission intend to prevent similar situations from occurring in future? How does the Commission plan in future to guarantee the independence of studies commissioned by it?

3. Is it correct that efforts are being made to force Romania to open its borders again for adoption? If so, how does the Commission view this?

4. Is it correct that this study, which has cost EUR 250 000 in EU money, was not initially made public? Is that usual with reports of this kind? How does the Commission view this?

5. Does the Commission agree that a European Adoption Agency should not be set up if there is no need for an agency of this kind?

6. Does the Commission also agree that the primary concern, in any European policy in the area of child protection, must in fact be the protection of the child and not European adoption policy, as adoption is not an end in itself but merely one of a number of ways in which to give children opportunities?