Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980): accession of Honduras; acceptance by Austria and Romania

The Committee on Legal Affairs adopted the report by Mary HONEYBALL (S&D, UK) on the proposal for a Council decision authorising Austria and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Honduras to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

As the matter of international child abduction falls within the exclusive external competence of the European Union, the decision whether to accept the accession of Honduras has to be taken at EU level by means of a Council Decision. Austria and Romania should thus make the declaration of acceptance concerning the accession of Honduras in the interest of the European Union. 

The acceptance of Austria and Romania would render the 1980 Convention applicable between Honduras and all EU Member States except Denmark.

The committee called on the European Parliament to approve the proposal without amendment, in order to ensure that EU-wide protection is afforded to the children in question.