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

2026/0041(NLE)

Council Decision (EU) 2026/1790 authorises Member States, in the interest of the European Union, to accept Cabo Verde’s accession to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The Convention provides for cooperation between Contracting States and their central authorities to ensure the prompt return of children who have been wrongfully removed or retained.

Acceptance of Cabo Verde’s accession

Cabo Verde deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention on 4 October 2022, and the Convention entered into force for Cabo Verde on 1 January 2023.

As the Convention applies between an acceding State and those Contracting States that have accepted its accession, the Decision authorises Member States to make the required declarations of acceptance. This is done in the interest of the Union, as the Union itself cannot become a party to the Convention or deposit such declarations.

The Decision reflects the Union’s exclusive external competence regarding declarations of acceptance under the Convention. It aims to establish a common legal framework between Member States and Cabo Verde for cases of international child abduction.

Obligations of Member States

Member States must deposit their declarations of acceptance by 15 July 2027, using the wording set out in the Decision.

They must inform the Council and the European Commission of the deposit of their declarations and send the Commission the text of each declaration within two months of its deposit.

Participation and entry into force

Ireland takes part in the adoption and application of the Decision. Denmark does not take part and is neither bound by nor subject to the Decision.

The European Parliament delivered its opinion on 17 June 2026. The Decision was adopted by the Council on 14 July 2026 and entered into force on 22 July 2026, the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This summary was AI-generated and human-reviewed.