Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980): accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan; acceptance by Austria, Luxembourg 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, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan 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 Belarus and Uzbekistan has to be taken at EU level by means of a Council Decision. Austria, Luxembourg and Romania should thus make the declaration of acceptance concerning the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan in the interest of the European Union. 

The acceptance of Austria, Luxembourg and Romania would render the 1980 Convention applicable between Belarus, Uzbekistan 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.