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

2011/0451(NLE)

PURPOSE: to authorise certain Member States to accept, in the interest of the EU, the accession of Morocco to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2015/2357 authorising certain Member States to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Morocco to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction

CONTENT: by this Decision, the Member States that have not yet done so are authorised to accept the accession of Morocco to the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (‘the 1980 Hague Convention’) in the interest of the Union.

The European Union has set as one of its aims the promotion of the protection of the rights of the child, as stated in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union. Measures for the protection of children against wrongful removal or retention are an essential part of that policy.

Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 complements and reinforces the 1980 Hague Convention, which establishes, at international level, a system of obligations and cooperation among contracting states and between central authorities and aims to ensure the prompt return of wrongfully removed or retained children.

The 1980 Hague Convention does not allow regional economic integration organisations such as the Union to become party to it. Therefore, the Union cannot accede to that Convention, nor can it deposit a declaration of acceptance of an acceding state. All Member States of the Union are party to the 1980 Hague Convention.

The Union encourages third states to accede to the 1980 Hague Convention. Morocco deposited its instrument of accession to the 1980 Hague Convention on 9 March 2010. The 1980 Hague Convention entered into force for Morocco on 1 June 2010.

Several Member States have already accepted the accession of Morocco to the 1980 Hague Convention. An assessment of the situation in this country has led to the conclusion that those Member States that have not yet accepted the accession of Morocco, are in a position to accept, in the interest of the Union, the accession of this country under the terms of the 1980 Hague Convention.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 18.12.2015.