Debate (recorded 27/04/2016) on Safeguarding the best interest of the child across the EU, during the EP plenary session (27-28 April 2016) in Brussels. Statements by Pavel SVOBODA (EPP, CZ), rapporteur, Cecilia WIKSTR&Ouml;M (ALDE, SE), rapporteur, Jeanine HENNIS-PLASSCHAERT, EU Council Presidency, Vera JOUROVA, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality

Brussels

debate

plenary session

JOUROVÁ, Věra (EC)

WIKSTRÖM, Cecilia (ALDE, SE)

rights of the child (T)

SVOBODA, Pavel (EPP, CZ)

HENNIS-PLASSCHAERT, Jeanine (ALDE, NL)

Safeguarding the best interest of the child across the EU: extracts from the debate (recorded 27/04/2016)

SOUNDBITE (English), Pavel SVOBODA (EPP, CZ), rapporteur, We are all aware of the short comings when it's comes to child abduction cases. In this respect it's appears that a deregulation has been overtaken by events. That is to say the grown number of transitional family dissolution proceedings which has been aggravated by the increasing divergences between the legal rules applicable to family dissolutions. On top of this, family law which is a competence of the member states has been fragmented into different types of family models: marriage; registered partnership; simple cohabitation. As a result, as the society has moved on, the deregulation has been left behind. MEP's are confronted with shortcomings of Brussels 2A o regular bases, not only in the petitions committee but also in correspondents and contacts with citizens who are at the end of their tether.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia WIKSTR&#214;M (ALDE, SE), rapporteur, It is more than important when we discuss how we best can protect the best interest of the child across borders in Europe. This is definitely a testimony for more cooperation, on family matters with trans-border aspects, and there is not only an urgent need to review the legal instruments, but also to try to find a way to avoid a harmful situation described in the petitions that we have received.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jeanine HENNIS-PLASSCHAERT, EU Council Presidency, As you know the issue of adoption of children is a matter which is not regulated at the EU level, but by national laws and by some international conventions, particularly the Den Hague Convention of 1993 to which all the EU member states are parties. This Convention aims to protect the adopted children in the countries if possible by offering them a home in theirs countries, and provide the cooperation between the authorities of the different states.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jeanine HENNIS-PLASSCHAERT, The fight against poverty is one of the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy , and is also one of the Presidency's priorities Working closer whit the social protection committee the Presidency has tabled the Council's conclusions and an integrated approach for combating poverty and social inclusion. In this document which is to be adopted in June the Council encourage member states to address child poverty and promote children's wellbeing through integrated strategies in accordance with the Commission recommendation 'Investing in children'.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#277;ra JOUROV&#193;, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, The functioning of child protection and welfare services is governed by national law. The Commission has sorely examined the numerous petitions of adoptions without parental consent that you have recently received. None of them falls into the remade of EU law. However the Commission is contributing to the elaboration of a common understanding of how the rights of the child can best be protected and promoted. For instance let me point to the ten principles of integrated child protection systems which were debates in the last European forum of the rights of the child which are also mentioned ion your draft resolution.