International Adoption in the European Union

Staidéar 16-03-2009

The main purpose of the report consists of proposing an up-dated comparative vision in the field of intercountry adoptions at European level, in particular following an interdisciplinary perspective able to give adequate consideration both to social and legal aspects involved. In particular, the research envisages two different levels of analysis: a documentary analysis based mainly on a statistical profile of the phenomenon within EU countries followed by a review of the fundamental international and European instruments that actually regulate the international adoption system and a survey that will be realized specifically at national level. The study led to some concrete proposal for the interventions of EU level and national policy-makers as well as representatives of civil society directed to harmonize the different national rules and experiences and to create a European adoption system.