The European Parliament adopted by 690 votes to 0, with 5 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council decision authorising the Member States of the European Union to accept, in the interests of the European Union, the accession of Tunisia to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
The European Parliament approved the authorisation for EU Member States to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Tunisia to the 1980 Hague Convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction.
The Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction has been ratified by 101 countries, including all EU Member States. It establishes a system whereby Contracting States cooperate to find a prompt settlement of cases of international child abduction, while ensuring that the best interests of children are safeguarded at all times in matters related to their custody.
The Convention aims to protect children internationally from the harmful effects of their wrongful removal or retention by establishing procedures to ensure their prompt return to the State of habitual residence, as well as by securing protection of rights of access.
The existence of an exclusive external competence of the European Union to accept the accession of a third State to the 1980 Convention has been confirmed by the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The fact that the Convention does not provide for autonomous action by international organisations has rendered necessary a Council Decision calling on Member States to accept, each in respect of its own territory, the accession of Tunisia to the Convention, and hence the effective entry into force of the Convention between the European Union and that country.
The accession of Tunisia to the 1980 Convention will ensure that the children concerned will benefit from full EU-wide protection.