To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms have been put in place by the EU to investigate and report on the implementation of child care legislation and protection of children's and other human rights in Romania prior to the enlargement of the EU. (89648)

The European Commission is responsible for monitoring Romania's compliance with the Copenhagen Criteria prior to accession. This includes monitoring of child care legislation and human rights. The latest Commission report of 26 September noted the continued implementation of child care legislation in Romania (which is in line with the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child), a continual decrease in the number of institutionalised children and substantial improvements in conditions in remaining institutions. Further details on this and other human rights aspects in Romania can be found in the Commission's report. This is available on the Commission website at: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2006/sept/report_bg_ ro_2006_en.pdf.