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

The European Parliament adopted by 659 votes to 1, with 1 abstention, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council decision authorising the Member States to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Cabo Verde to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of the International Child Abduction.

Parliament approved the authorisation of the Member States to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Cabo Verde to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of the International Child Abduction.

As a reminder, the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an instrument designed to protect children internationally from the harmful effects of wrongful removal to or retention in other State than that of the habitual residence. The Convention provides for procedures to secure the prompt return of the child/children to the State of their habitual residence and to ensure that rights of custody and of access under the law of one State are effectively respected in the other States. It introduces a system of cooperation between the Contracting States aimed at swift settlement of cases of international child abduction, ensuring that the best interests of the child are always safeguarded.

As the EU has exclusive external competence in this field and the Convention does not provide for autonomous action by regional economic integration organisations such as the Union, this has rendered necessary a Council Decision calling on Member States to accept, each in respect of their own territory, the accession of Cabo Verde to the Convention, and hence the effective entry into force of the Convention in cases involving the EU and that country.

Cabo Verde acceded to the Convention on 4 October 2022, and the Convention entered into force in Cabo Verde on 1 January 2023.