NETHERLANDS: PENDING ADOPTION CASES IN ROMANIA

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000617 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL CASC EU RO NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: PENDING ADOPTION CASES IN ROMANIA REF: STATE 43700 ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel demarche March 21 to MFA Western and Central Europe policy officer Mara van der Poel, who handles accession issues for Romania and Bulgaria. The GONL is satisfied with the Romanian adoption law, which it believes (despite our arguments) is in conformity with international and EU conventions. Van der Poel cited European Commission reports that indicated Romania had the capacity to adopt needy children internally. Regarding pending cases, she said that the GONL was satisfied with the European Commission's call for the Romanian government to inform applicants of the status of their cases. ¶2. (SBU) When pressed by poloff, van der Poel said that, frankly, the Romanian accession process faces hurdles which are far more pressing that the adoption issue (for example, corruption). She said that the GONL does not feel this is an issue on which the Romanians should be distracted. ARNALL