Hague Convention (1980) on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction: accession of Andorra

PURPOSE: to accept, in the interests of the EU, the accession of Andorra to the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on civil aspects of international child abduction.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Decision (EU) 2015/1023 authorising certain Member States to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Andorra to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

CONTENT: under this Decision, the Member States that have not yet done so are authorised to accept the accession of Andorra to the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction in the interest of the Union. The European Union has set as one of its aims the promotion of the protection of the rights of the child, as stated in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union. Measures for the protection of children against wrongful removal or retention are an essential part of that policy.

All Member States of the Union are party to the 1980 Hague Convention. The Union encourages third states to accede to the 1980 Hague Convention and supports its correct implementation.

Andorra deposited its instrument of accession to the 1980 Hague Convention on 6 April 2011. That Convention entered into force for Andorra on 1 July 2011. Several Member States have already accepted the accession of Andorra to the 1980 Hague Convention. An assessment of the situation in Andorra has led to the conclusion that those Member States that have not yet accepted the accession of Andorra, are in a position to accept, in the interest of the Union, the accession of Andorra under the terms of the 1980 Hague Convention. Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Finland which have already accepted the accession of Andorra to the 1980 Hague Convention should not deposit new declarations of acceptance as the existing declarations remain valid under public international law.

To recall, the EU adopted Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 (‘Brussels IIa Regulation’), which complements and reinforces the 1980 Hague Convention. The latter establishes, at international level, a system of obligations and cooperation among contracting states and between central authorities and aims to ensure the prompt return of wrongfully removed or retained children.

The United Kingdom and Ireland are bound by Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 and are taking part in the adoption and application of the Decision.

However, Denmark is not taking part in it and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 1.7.2015.