Resolution to the EU

Update on Resolution to open Romanian Adoptions.

The battle for signatures continues. We are now at 390, I know that we have at least 10 MEPs signing tomorrow, and 50+ faxes have been sent tonight to those whom we believe may still sign by noon tomorrow - the cut-off time for signatures. If a miracle occurs and we get 490 we will have 2/3 of Parliament. So, please, pray for a miracle. We've already had a minor one earlier this evening - one of Nicholson's allies came over to our side and signed - Allessandro Battilocchio of Italy. It's been rumored the Italian parents threatened to use him as a soccer ball in their World Cup match on Sunday unless he repented and signed...We also now have 65 signatures of the 93 ALDE MEPs - Nicholson's political party.

To give you an idea of what we've been up against, and why this Declaration is so key, Lisa Ragsale found the following information on 'www.childhelplineinternational.org'

"Since 1999, a total of 214 Written Declarations were presented to the EU Parliament. Of these only 11 were successfully adopted. Of the eleven, none were on children’s issues."

As Eliot mentioned, Tannock and Gibault stood up in Parliament today and requested that MEPs sign Declaration 23. Immediately Nicholson and Gomes rushed to a computer and sent the email below to MEPs. Tannock then wrote a response which also appears below. This is the 4th email Nicholson/Gomes have sent to the MEPs in the last 2 weeks and the 4th our allies have responded to.

I will send another update tomorrow when we have a final tally of signatures and details of the press conference and press release. Although thsi Declaration is not legally binding, it sends a strong message to both the EU Commissioners and the Romanian government. It will be wise for them to heed it. More information tomorrow, including next steps....

Thanks so much for your continued support and efforts and prayers.

From MEP Tannock in response to Nicholson/Gomes email below
Dear Baroness Nicholson and Colleagues

The "destruction of Romanian families" is absurd. I have never heard that "long term fostering" is a "family" -by definition fostering is subject to being stopped at any stage when a better more caring permanent situation becomes available. Foster parents unlike adopting parents are generally being paid for their services and are less likely to bond as genuine adopting parents with the children. There are actually allegations that some of these children were deliberately placed by the Romanian child protection services in fostering at considerable expense and at very short notice to avoid them being permanently adopted abroad and to show the outside world that all was well with Romanian orphans and abandoned children.
Personally I am delighted WD 23 has achieved a majority of MEP support today and I thank as coauthor all colleagues who signed. This resolution is a binding resolution of the European Parliament but is not legally binding on Romania, only indicative that the EP believes the Romanian government should be more flexible and compassionate in its approach. I now call on the Romanian government and the Commission to pay heed to our wishes.

best wishes

Dr. Charles Tannock MEP

London Region
Vice President Human Rights Subcommittee of EP
Deputy Coordinator Foreign Affairs Committee for EPP-ED Group
UK Conservative Foreign Affairs Spokesman


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