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PURPOSE: to adopt, in the interest of the EU, a declaration of acceptance by the Member States of the accession of Andorra 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.  Andorra deposited the accession instrument to the 1980 Convention on 6 April 2011. The Convention entered into force in Andorra on 1 July 2011.

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 EU has to decide whether to accept the accession of Andorra, and if so, Member States must make the declaration of acceptance concerning Gabon's accession in the interest of the European Union.

This is the purpose of the proposal.

The decision whether the Member States should accept Andorra’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 has been undertaken.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 218 and 81(3) 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 Andorra 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 Andorra’s accession to the 1980 Hague Convention. For the sake of coherence and uniformity of Union law, Member States should make this declaration of acceptance simultaneously within a time frame established by the Council Decision. 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. Andorra has also designated the Central Authority that is needed to assist the European citizens in cases of wrongful removal of children to Andorra.

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 IMPLICATIONS: the proposal has no implication for the European Union budget.

PURPOSE: to adopt, in the interest of the EU, a declaration of acceptance by the Member States of the accession of Andorra 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.  Andorra deposited the accession instrument to the 1980 Convention on 6 April 2011. The Convention entered into force in Andorra on 1 July 2011.

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 EU has to decide whether to accept the accession of Andorra, and if so, Member States must make the declaration of acceptance concerning Gabon's accession in the interest of the European Union.

This is the purpose of the proposal.

The decision whether the Member States should accept Andorra’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 has been undertaken.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 218 and 81(3) 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 Andorra 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 Andorra’s accession to the 1980 Hague Convention. For the sake of coherence and uniformity of Union law, Member States should make this declaration of acceptance simultaneously within a time frame established by the Council Decision. 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. Andorra has also designated the Central Authority that is needed to assist the European citizens in cases of wrongful removal of children to Andorra.

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 IMPLICATIONS: the proposal has no implication for the European Union budget.

OBJECTIF : adopter, dans l’intérêt de l’UE, une déclaration d'acceptation par les États membres, de l'adhésion d’Andorre à la convention de La Haye de 1980 sur les aspects civils de l'enlèvement international d'enfants.

ACTE PROPOSÉ : Décision du Conseil.

CONTEXTE : la convention de La Haye du 25 octobre 1980 sur les aspects civils de l'enlèvement international d'enfants, à ce jour ratifiée par 86 pays, dont tous les États membres de l'UE, a pour objet de rétablir le statu quo moyennant le retour immédiat des enfants déplacés ou retenus illicitement, grâce à un système de coopération entre les autorités centrales désignées par les parties contractantes.

La prévention de l'enlèvement d'enfants étant un élément essentiel de la politique de l'UE en matière de promotion des droits de l'enfant, l'Union européenne s'efforce d'améliorer l'application de la convention de 1980 au niveau international et encourage les pays tiers à y adhérer.

Andorre a déposé l'instrument d'adhésion à la convention de 1980, le 6 avril 2011. La convention est entrée en vigueur à Andorre le 1^er juillet 2011.

L'article 38, alinéa 4, de la convention de 1980, prévoit que la convention s'applique dans les rapports entre l'État adhérent et les États contractants qui auront déclaré accepter cette adhésion. L'Union européenne doit en conséquence décider d'accepter ou non l'adhésion d’Andorre et, dans l'affirmative, les États membres doivent déposer la déclaration d'acceptation relative à l'adhésion d’Andorre, dans l'intérêt de l'Union.

C’est l’objet de la présente proposition de décision.

La décision de l'acceptation ou non par les États membres de l'adhésion d’Andorre à la convention de 1980 doit de ce fait, être prise par la voie d'une décision du Conseil, adoptée à l’unanimité après consultation du Parlement européen.

ANALYSE D’IMPACT : aucune analyse d'impact n'a été réalisée.

BASE JURIDIQUE : article 218 et article 81, par. 3 du traité sur le fonctionnement de l'Union européenne (TFUE).

CONTENU : avec la présente proposition de décision, la Commission propose que les États membres déposent simultanément à une date donnée, une déclaration d'acceptation de l'adhésion d’Andorre à la convention de La Haye du 25 octobre 1980 sur les aspects civils de l'enlèvement international d'enfants, dans l'intérêt de l'Union.

Compétence externe exclusive de l’UE : conformément à la jurisprudence  de la Cour de justice, la question de l'enlèvement international d'enfants relève de la compétence externe exclusive de l'Union du fait de l'adoption de la législation interne de l'Union par voie de règlement (CE) n° 2201/2003 du Conseil relatif à la compétence, la reconnaissance et l'exécution des décisions en matière matrimoniale et en matière de responsabilité parentale («règlement Bruxelles II bis»), qui s'applique entre les États membres à compter du 1^er mars 2005. Le règlement introduit, notamment à l'article 11, des règles plus strictes que la convention de La Haye de 1980 sur l'enlèvement parental. Cet article fait directement référence à la convention de La Haye et en confirme les principes dans le droit de l'Union européenne.

Simultanéité de l’acceptation de la déclaration d’acceptation: la convention de 1980 ayant été adoptée plus de 20 ans avant le règlement Bruxelles II bis, elle ne prévoit aucune disposition permettant l'adhésion d'organisations internationales telles que l'UE (clause dite d'intégration régionale). Seuls les États souverains peuvent donc être parties à celle-ci (l’UE ne peut pas y adhérer directement ni déposer sa propre déclaration d'acceptation de l'adhésion d’Andorre). Les États membres doivent dès lors déposer leur déclaration d'acceptation de l'adhésion d’Andorre dans l'intérêt de l'Union européenne, et ce, sans délai. Il est donc proposé que la déclaration d'acceptation soit faite simultanément par les États membres dans le délai fixé par la proposition de décision du Conseil, à savoir 2 mois après l'adoption de la décision du Conseil.

Autorité centrale : pour faciliter l'application pratique de la convention de 1980, chaque partie doit désigner une autorité centrale chargée de satisfaire aux obligations que la convention impose. Tous les États membres ont désigné des autorités centrales au titre de la convention de 1980. Andorre a également désigné l'autorité centrale chargée d'assister les citoyens européens en cas de déplacement illicite d'enfants vers Andorre.

Dispositions territoriales : conformément aux articles 1^er et 2 du protocole sur la position du Danemark, cet État membre ne participe pas à l’adoption de la proposition décision et n’est donc pas lié par celle-ci ni soumis à son application.

INCIDENCE BUDGÉTAIRE : la proposition n'a pas d'incidence sur le budget de l'UE.