Declarations
Articles: 15,22,25
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2. Greece declares that the functions of the Central Authority provided for in articles 15 to 21 of the Convention may be performed by the following Agencies and Organizations, mentioned in the provision of article 1, paragraph 2 of presidential decree 226/1999 (Government Gazette No. 190 A), which are recognized as specialized:
(a) Social Welfare Directorates of the four sectors of the Athens Prefecture for the Attica District, except for the Piraeus Prefecture, as well as for the Districts of the regions of Sterea Ellada and Thessaly.
(b) Social Welfare Directorate of the Piraeus Prefecture for the Piraeus Prefecture and for the Districts of the regions of the North and South Aegean.
(c) Social Welfare Directorate of the Thessaloniki Prefecture for the Districts of the regions of Central Macedonia, Western Macedonia and Eastern Macedonia & Thrace.
(d) Social Welfare Directorate of the Achaia Prefecture for the Districts of the regions of Western Greece, the Peloponnese and the Ionian Islands.
(e) Social Welfare Directorate of the Iraklio Prefecture for the Districts of the region of Crete.
(f) Social Welfare Directorate of the Prefecture of Ioannina for the Districts of the region of Epirus.
(g) The Greek Branch of the International Social Agency, seated in Athens.
(h) The "Saint Stylianos" Municipal Foundling Hospital of Thessaloniki and the Social Care Units converted into public legal entities by virtue of article 14 of Law 3329/2005 (Government Gazette No. 81 A), which also include the Units of "Penteli Infirmary", "MITERA" Infants Centre and "Saint Andreas Kalamaki" Children Recreation Park.
In cases where there is no staffed social service in the aforementioned Social Welfare Units, the social research shall be carried out by the competent Social Agencies of the Welfare Directorates or Departments of the competent Prefectorial Governments.
3. In accordance with Article 22, paragraph 4 of the Convention, the Hellenic Republic declares that the adoption of children habitually resident in the territory of the Hellenic Republic may only take place where the functions of the Central Authorities are performed by public authorities or accredited bodies under Chapter III of the Convention.
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5. In accordance with Article 25 of the Convention, the Hellenic Republic declares that it will not be bound under the Convention to recognize adoptions made in accordance with an agreement concluded by application of Article 39, paragraph 2 of the Convention.
6. The recognition by Greece of an adoption effected in a foreign Contracting State is subject to the following conditions:
a) the granting of a certificate by the Competent Authority of the Contracting State that the adoption took place in accordance with the Convention and
b) the adoption is not obviously contrary to the public order, taking into account the best interest of the child.