In 2001, USAID released a report on Romania’s intercountry adoption system, authored by Michael W. Ambrose and Anna Mary Coburn, J.D., following EU criticism in its 2000 Regular Report on Romania’s EU accession. Commissioned as a strategic move to steer the EU’s vision and lead the adoption discourse, it critiques Romania’s “point system” for prioritizing funds over children’s best interests.
It calls for transparency, agency oversight, and stronger domestic adoption. This set the stage for a November 2001 US Embassy meeting, where the EU and US clashed over subsidiarity—debating foster care and institutional care as alternatives before intercountry adoption. A key moment in adoption policy history!