Minister for the Family and Social Policy, Michael Farrugia, said that agreements with a number of countries are being worked on at the moment to help inter-country adoptions. This was said in answer to parliamentary questions by PN MP Censu Galea and PL MP Anthony Agius Decelis.
The reason for delays in agreements is due to issues regarding medical tests required by Malta being addressed. Speaking about adopting children from Bulgaria, the Minister sad that while in Bulgaria, children are tested for Hepatitis B and HIV, in Malta the children also require Hepatitis C testing.
Dr Farrugia mentioned discussions with a number of countries including India, the US, Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Kosovo, Albania and Vietnam.
Cambodia was also mentioned, however the country is currently closed to all inter-country adoptions due to problems with child trafficking in the past. The Maltese government is currently working on MoUs with various countries aiming to be the first country to re-initiate procedures for adoption once Cambodia reopens its doors.
PN Deputy Leader, Beppe Fenech Adami, spoke out in a supplementary question asking if the Minister has any message for hopeful parents who have been struggling for years to adopt a child. Dr Fenech Adami said he was made aware of this during the National Conference on Fostering and Adoptions organized by the PN on the 2nd April.
The PN Deputy Leader also pointed out that it seems the rate of successful adoptions has been decreasing over the years.
Minister Farrugia replied that there are plans to further simplify the process of adoption from Malta and, in terms of decreasing numbers, although there was an issue with Russia due to varying requirements, adoptions from the country are still going on with the potential of new agreements to make it easier for Maltese hopefuls in the future.