This was the situation that arose for two Belgian children born via surrogacy in Kyrgyzstan last February.
Their parents applied for a provisional passport at the relevant Belgian diplomatic mission abroad, but the Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs did not process the application.
As their visas were due to expire, the parents were forced to leave their twins in the care of a nursery nurse and return to Belgium because they had not received their babies’ provisional passports.
After serving a formal notice on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and receiving no response, the matter was brought before the court for summary proceedings on Friday 26 April. The case was heard on Tuesday 30 April at 9.00 am and the decision was handed down at 2.30 pm: the Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs was ordered to issue the two passports for the children, subject to a penalty payment of €1,000 for each day of delay.
Let
me introduce you to Matteo (left) and Alessio (right): they are well and have been with their parents in Belgium since 9 May.
Who said justice was slow?
When the situation is genuinely urgent and fundamental rights are at stake, S-Law is here to stand by your side, defend you and secure justice and the necessary decisions. This outcome would not have been possible without the judge and her court clerk, who not only understood the urgency of this case but also worked to ensure that these children could live with their parents in Belgium.
