Activites

• 2015/12/17 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Decision 2015/2356
  • OJ L 331 17.12.2015, p. 0017
• 2015/12/10 Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
• 2015/02/11 Results of vote in Parliament
  • Results of vote in Parliament
  • T8-0024/2015 summary

    The European Parliament adopted by 655 votes to 43, with 6 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council decision on the declaration of acceptance by the Member States, in the interest of the European Union, of the accession of Albania to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Parliament approved the proposal for a Council decision and the acceptance of the accession.

• 2015/02/10 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2015/01/22 Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
  • A8-0002/2015 summary

    The Committee on Legal Affairs adopted the report by Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI) on the proposal for a Council decision on the declaration of acceptance by the Member States, in the interest of the European Union, of the accession of Albania to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The Convention introduces a system of cooperation between the contracting states aimed at settling cases of international child abduction. In the case of divorce, it may often be that the courts in both of the states concerned declare themselves competent, with each of them awarding custody of the child to the parent who is a national of their state. The purpose of the Convention is to resolve such situations at an international level, by establishing that the competent courts and applicable laws are those of the state of residence of the child. The Convention also introduces a system which ensures the immediate return of children who have been abducted. The EU now has exclusive external competence in this field as confirmed by the Court of Justice in Opinion 1/13. The Member States therefore no longer act on their own account. The problem is that the Convention does not provide for autonomous action by international organisations. This has rendered necessary a Council Decision calling on Member States to accept – each in respect of their own territory – the accession of Albania to the Convention, and hence the effective entry into force of the Convention in cases involving the EU and that country (many EU citizens are of Albanian origin). Children with links to the Albanian community will thus be safeguarded against abduction. Therefore, the committee recommended that the European Parliament approve the proposed Council Decision and approve the acceptance of the accession of Albania.

• 2015/01/20 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
• 2014/11/24 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 2011/12/21 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(2011)0912 summary

    PURPOSE: to adopt, in the interest of the EU, a declaration of acceptance by the Member States, of the accession of Albania to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision. BACKGROUND: the aim of the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, to date ratified by 86 countries, including all EU Member States, is to restore the status quo by mean of the prompt return of wrongfully removed or retained children through a system of cooperation among central authorities appointed by its Contracting Parties. As the prevention of child abduction is an essential part of the EU policy to promote the rights of the child, the European Union is active at international level to improve the application of the 1980 Convention and encourages third States to accede it. Albania deposited the accession instrument to the 1980 Convention on 4 May 2007. The Convention entered into force in Albania on 1 August 2007. Article 38(4) of the 1980 Convention stipulates that the Convention applies between the acceding country and such Contracting States as will have declared their acceptance of the accession. Therefore, the European Union has to decide, whether to accept the accession of Albania, and when affirmative, Member States should make the declaration of acceptance concerning Albania's accession in the interest of the European Union. This is the purpose of this draft decision. The decision whether the Member States should accept Albania’s accession to the 1980 Convention has to be taken by means of a Council Decision, adopted unanimously after consulting the European Parliament. IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out. LEGAL BASIS: Article 218 and 81(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). CONTENT: the Commission proposes that Member States deposit simultaneously, and no later than two months from the date of adoption, a declaration of acceptance of the accession of Albania to the Hague Convention of 25 October  1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction in the interest of the European Union. Exclusive external competence of the EU: in accordance with the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice, the matter of international child abduction falls into the exclusive external competence of the EU, because of the adoption of internal Union legislation by means of Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 of concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility (the Brussels IIa Regulation), which applies between Member States from 1 March 2005. The Regulation introduces even stricter rules than the 1980 Hague Convention on parental child abduction, particularly in Article 11 of the Regulation. It refers directly to the Hague Convention and upholds its principles in European Union law. Simultaneous adoption: the 1980 Convention was adopted more than 20 years before the Brussels IIa Regulation and thus does not contain any provision allowing the accession of International Organisations like the European Union. Member States have to ratify or accede to the Convention in the interest of the European Union. Therefore, the Member States should declare, in the interest of the European Union, the acceptance regarding Albania’s accession to the 1980 Hague Convention. For the sake of coherence and uniformity of Union law, Member States, within a time frame established by the Council Decision, should make this declaration of acceptance simultaneously. The Commission proposes no later than 2 months after the adoption of the Council Decision. Central Authority: it is crucial for the practical application of the 1980 Convention that a Contracting Party designates a Central Authority to discharge the duties which are imposed by the Convention upon such authorities. All Member States have designated Central Authorities under the 1980 Convention. Albania has also designated the Central Authority that is needed to assist the European citizens in cases of wrongful removal of children to Albania. Territorial provisions: in accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application. BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the proposal has no implication for the EU budget.

  • DG {'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/justice/', 'title': 'Justice'}, REDING Viviane

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(2011)0912
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A8-0002/2015
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T8-0024/2015
• : Decision 2015/2356
• : OJ L 331 17.12.2015, p. 0017

Amendments

Dossier

1

2011/0448(NLE) 2014/12/08 JURI 1 amendments... Amendment 1 # Angel DZHAMBAZKI Proposal for a decision Article 1 - introductory part The Member States of the European Union shall deposit simultaneously, and no later than [ADD DATE: TwoFour months from the adoption], a declaration of acceptance of the accession of Albania to the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction in the interest of the European Union as follows: source: 544.325

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)