Press Release: Children in the European Union gain additional protection against international abduction

The European Commission proposed the EU accept Russia and seven more countries as parties to an international convention designed to prevent child abduction.

The 1980 Hague Convention ensures the prompt return of children abducted by one parent to their habitual country of residence and protects parental access rights. International abduction by a parent is a global problem affecting several thousand children each year.

The move will effectively extend protection for children in the EU to eight new countries: Russia, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Gabon, Morocco, Seychelles and Singapore. The Convention has been ratified by 86 countries to date, including all EU members.