Relating to the passage of Declaration 23

Dear MEPs,

Relating to the passage of Declaration 23, we thought you would be interested in a translation of the following interview with MEP Nicholson published in Gandul, which is below. Two quotes by MEP Nicholson include:

“…the document which was signed by them does not represent the point of view of the European Parliament.”

“But, I repeat that this petition has absolutely no value from an official point of view.”

Other relevant news:

In the days preceding passage of Dec 23, Nicholson and Gomes stated that all outstanding 1,000+ cases in question suddenly were either adopted or in long-term foster care. They argued that long-term foster care was, in essence, permanent family placement.

However, in recent days throughout Romania, contrary to Nicholson and Gomes’s claims of permanence and stability from fostering, the government has for the first time begun to ask all foster parents to sign a statement accepting that the fostering is not permanent and that they can not adopt children in their care. This has significant implications, as it will dissuade those families with a true, permanent interest in adoption, and it will send an emotionally disturbing message to the children -- that their status is not stable, that the family they live with will be taken from them.

Sincerely,

Charities Concerned with Children in Romania