Adoption and child protection: European perspectives

Despite adherence to common principles (the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption, etc.), the legal framework for adoption shows a certain diversity, even within the member states of the European Union. Adoption, as a child protection measure, is a complex subject that raises numerous legal and social issues. The aim of this dossier is to explore the different facets of adoption on a European scale, highlighting the convergences and divergences in national legislation, as well as the issues involved in protecting the best interests of the child. As adoption is an institution whose regulation is based on a system of values and cultures specific to each society, this dossier offers reflections from comparative law and European law on the way in which the child's best interests are defended in adoption matters. Protecting children is often reflected in different standards across the EU. The contributions in this dossier provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and prospects of adoption in the European and international context, and of the legal phenomena involved.