During the EP plenary session (15-18 January 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate and vote the report Tadeusz ZWIEFKA (EPP, PL) on jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of decisions in matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility, and international child abduction. Statements by Tadeusz ZWIEFKA (EPP, PL), rapporteur, Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Member of the EC in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, and Miriam DALLI (S&D, MT). The results are: 562 in favour, 16 against and 43 abstentions.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

vote

DALLI, Miriam (S&D, MT)

rights of the child (T)

AVRAMOPOULOS, Dimitris (EL, EC)

ZWIEFKA, Tadeusz (EPP, PL)

international child abduction (T)

Jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of decisions in matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility, and international child abduction: extracts from the debate (17/01) and vote on the report Tadeusz ZWIEFKA (EPP, PL)

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Tadeusz ZWIEFKA (EPP, PL), rapporteur, Of course we cannot hear the child in every case we cannot impose that on Courts that is up to the Court to decide . What is new here is the need to justify the decision not to hear the child. So when the Court decides not to hear the child they need to justify the decision. We also emphasise the fact that those hearings should be based on common standards in a friendly environment for the child so possibly outside of the Court, they should also be conducted by a specialised judge or an expert without any pressure from outside from the parents from third parties and without the participation of the parents, that is very important.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Member of the EC in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Strengthening the rights of the child is the top priority for the Commission. Our proposal in this area will insure that children are given an opportunity to be heard in the legal proceedings concerning them. The mutual recognition of member states practices in this respect will avoid refusals at the stage of recognition or enforcement that&rsquo;s allowing a true circulation of judgements in the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Miriam DALLI (S&amp;D, MT), PETI, It is our duty to insure that both children and parents who act in good faith are protected . There are too many cases of international child abduction by one of the parents, for us not to act. And our guiding principle is that child abduction is detrimental to the fundamental rights of any child wherever he or she is. And it&rsquo;s a fact the world we are living in is changing, and family law issues also change, because family law issues that were before exclusively dealt within national and state are now requiring international application.

Views during the vote e- Vote results: total voters: 621 in favour: 562 against: 16 abstention: 43 Adopted.