EU levert kritiek op Roemeens beleid inzake adoptie van kinderen (en)

The EU is criticising the Romanian authorities for putting 105 children up for adoption in Italy despite a ban in Romania on international adoptions.

Both the European Parliament and the European Commission have asked Romania to explain its controversial move, which comes at a delicate time for the Romanian government hoping to complete talks on EU entry this year, ahead of possible accession in 2007.

The European Parliament's raporteur for Romania, Baroness Emma Nicholson has strongly condemned the action. According to Mrs Nicholson, the children were sent to Italy after an agreement was reached between the two country leaders, Adrian Nastase and Silvio Berlusconi.

But Mr Nastase said the children were shipped after a special government decision and that there was no suspicion of corruption.

He also announced new legislation regarding the protection of abandoned children in Romania.

Pressure from Brussels

The ban on international adoptions was introduced in 2001 under pressure from the European Parliament, which spoke out against a highly corrupt administration dealing with children.

The Parliament therefore asked Romania to suspend the practice until corruption had been completely eradicated.

But Bucharest has come under US pressure to lift the ban, with Washington using the carrot of NATO membership. Other countries, such as Italy, Spain and France, have also lobbied hard for adoptions to resume.

Suspension of negotiations?

Dutch MEP Arie Oostlander has called for the suspension of pre-accession talks with Romania until it improves its human rights record and tackles widespread corruption.

The Parliament can only recommend this kind of action to the European Commission but it would be a controversial political move.

Romania has been threatened before with the suspension of talks but this time the European Commission is taking it more seriously.

The BBC reports Commission officials as saying they are investigating the case but also helping Romania to reform its adoption laws.

"We will wait for clarification from Romania and we will see", said a Commission spokesperson on Friday (23 January).

However, the Commission believes that the momentum may be lost if the talks are suspended.