The Flemish Welfare Minister Caroline Gennez (socialist) has announced that the Flemish Government has reached an agreement on halting international adoptions.
Numerous irregularities have come to light in recent years. These include children arriving in Belgium supposedly as orphans, when it later transpired that their parents were still alive in their country of origin. In 2023 the previous Flemish Government introduced a moratorium on international adoptions.
Ongoing issues led to an increase in political support to make the moratorium permanent. In March it emerged that there was a consensus among the 3 coalition parties to make the measure permanent.
In March of this year, it emerged that there was also a consensus on this within the Flemish majority parties (N-VA, Vooruit, CD&V). Minister Gennez spoke at the time in the Flemish Parliament of “a historic moment”.
"It is time to close this chapter"
In a statement released on Monday, Ms Gennez said that “The safety and well-being of the child must always come first. But even with the best intentions and extensive screening procedures, we cannot guarantee that in international adoptions. It is time to close this chapter”.
In practical terms, a new adoption bill will be introduced to provide a legal framework for all adoption procedures. Under this, intercountry adoptions will no longer be possible. Only candidates that already hold a Certificate of Suitability and have a firm link with a child in their country of origin will be able to proceed with their application.