I don't know which is the greater evil. Children being exploited or abiding by EU law. It's hard to decide. I was born in Romania yet an American citizen. Both are my countries. I would like to adopt from Romania but I know the corruption that goes on.

As a Romanian citizen living in another country I think it is really sad that my own country will not allow me to adopt a child. I have been to Romania and have seen first hand the despair and lack of resources for the children in overcrowding orphanages and those forced onto the streets. It saddens me that those children can not find loving homes and caring parents no matter where from. So putting aside EU vs. US laws and thinking Romania should abide by its "promise" what about thinking about those children rocking themselves back and forth each night [...]

Read the full comment because there are simply not enough people volunteering to at least hold those children. Rather than hating the US I appreciate the fact that they are thinking of these children. Maybe you should too. As an American & Romanian citizen I am glad at least one of my countries is going to bat for me, and hopefully one day these children.

Peace

I am adopted from Romania and will have to agree, I dont see my adoptive parents as foreigners who wanted to be parents. I am so blessed to be a part of a family.

Rebecca, I agree with you!

I agree that some, like Alex only sees this "The USA wants Romania (or insert any other country) to do ......"

The underlining issues that the EU had with Romania is to fix the corruption, which also involved the adoption process. What Alex fails to see is that even the EU has told Romania that they need to resolve the international adoption procedures that were underway when the ban took effect, over 1,000 kids were effected! What about these kids? Where are they? NOT in loving homes [...]

Read the full comment of Romanians, not many get homes, or have gotten homes! What needs to happen, is a kid should be places in a loving home, be it Romania or other! It's not an area where people need to place politics, these are kids we are talking about, kids who deserve a future, who deserve a loving family! Sometimes it looks at the Romanian government just wants to act like they have no problem with children without homes, be it in orphanages or the streets.

The EU has also told Romania that they need to allow these international adoptions “with the goal of allowing inter-country adoptions to take place, where justified and appropriate".

I am not sure where Alex is from, but are you from Romania? If not, have you ever been there? Either way, do you know how these kids feel? Have you had any contact with then at all? Were you ever in their situation? I am in Romania right now, my third time here in a year, I am touched by some of these kids, I worry about the ones on the street, especially at night, there are a couple that I wish and pray I could adopt! And you know, they said they SAME THING to me! They want to be a part of a family, with me! How do you tell a kid that their country will not allow someone who is not Romanian to adopt them? THEY, The KIDS, do NOT see someone as being a foreigner, they only see someone who cares for them, loves them, and THAT is what is important, and THAT is what needs to happen!

Just so you know, The letter that Mrs. Clinton delivered was urged by A LOT of parents who were in the process of adopting a Romanian child when the ban took effect, they are still fighting for the CHILD! They have not given up! They are not doing it for themselves, they are doing it for the love of a CHILD!

Yesterday, I too called Mrs. Clinton's office (I know she will get my message ;) ) urging that the US does more to get Romania to realize that the children's welfare is what is important, and that they should allow for the renewal of international adoptions.

Alex, Have you spent time in Romania and have you spent time in Romania orphanages? Did you grow up in an institution rather than a home? You seem to be voicing political concerns rather than a concern for humanity. Laws should be in place to ensure that all members of a society are protected and that the best interest of people is served. If a law runs counter to this it should be changed. The EU also urges US to change many policies and legislation.

Anneke,

As you have spent time in [...]

Read the full comment Romania and it sounds like you certainly understand the impact of adoption on children. You mention that international adoption should be a last resort for a child, I would be interested to hear your opinions on why this should be a last resort? Is it concerns for the psychological effects on children or the concern that children are being treated as a commodity? I have spent much time in Romania and volunteering in an orphanage. I suppose maybe I am not nationalistic enough. I feel that we are all simply people who happen to have been born in different locations on this planet. I think all the governmental divides are fabricated and create false differences among people... who are just people. Governments seem to treat their citizens as property, which is fundamentally wrong. I have difficulty believing the children who I have come to know who are truly alone in this world are better off alone than in a family regardless of location or nationality. A government or volunteer worker is not the same thing as having a family. I agree that Romania has come a long way in providing for their children and I applaud the work but it doesn't substitute having family. That said traffic of children must be prevented. Surely their is a way to stop treating children as governmental property, stop child traffic and also find homes for all children in our world. I am probably too idealistic.

Having been in Romania, involved in strengthening the domestic adoption system as an adoption expert, I am really shocked by this action. Obviously mrs. Clinton and the politicians have been misinformed by the pro adoption lobby: there is no surplus of waiting children. There only is a large group of would be parents that give a voice to the idea of lifting the moratorium. This is not what adoption is meant to accomplish, adoption and especially intercountry adoption is the last resort for those children that in no other way can be raised within a family context. Romania has worked [...]

Read the full comment hard to provide for its own children and is getting there. We should look into the merits of their system and help them strenghten it further. The current views are not supportive. Mrs. Clinton and others might consider reading 'Romania for export only' by mrs. Roelie Post as well as talk to independent professionals who worked in Romania e.g. on behalf of IFCO or Better Care Network. I figure she will review her ideas then.
Anneke child psychologist specialized in adoption (Netherlands)

This is one of the reasons why I hate the US they cannot stop interfering in EU Affairs. What do the Americans don't get - Romania did not decide one day to ban foreign adoptions it was forced to along with other things in Romania's Clause with the EU that Bulgaria did not have. Bulgaria is allowed foreign adoptions because they had no strict EU Clause. But for Romania this is an entirely different case. Romania is being pressured for pursuing their interests in joining the EU when the EU Clause meet standards.

Romania is not allowed to allow foreign adoptions that was part of Romania's Clause in the EU. Romania is obliged to keep its promises to the EU. The EU has banned foreign adoptions out of Romania. I hope the EU will push back and silence the US about this. Romania is bound by EU Law not by US Law.