ROMANIA: Romania said yesterday it would pass a new law next week that effectively bans foreigners from adopting Romanian babies; the law comes 20 days later than planned, because lawmakers were busy with municipal elections.
The Balkan state, which hopes to join the European Union in 2007, has already imposed a three-year moratorium on foreign adoptions, after the EU told Bucharest it must clean up a corrupt system of selling children to the highest bidder.
Parliament had said it would pass the new adoption law by May 21st, but deputies were busy campaigning for party-backed candidates in June 6th municipal elections.
"Adoptions have not been our top priority," said ruling Social Democrat deputy Florin Iordache from the Lower Chamber of Deputies.
Parliament will officially recess tomorrow and resume sessions next Tuesday, after Sunday's polls, seen as a key test ahead of November 28th general elections.
The new adoption law, which has cleared the Senate and is now before the lower house, says foreigners can adopt a Romanian child only if they are its grandparents, which will effectively mean no Romanian children can be adopted abroad.