Deputy PM and FM Venizelos’ initial remarks in the EP debate on the “Return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State” (Strasbourg, 15 April 2014)

MFA, Wednesday, 16 April 2014

E. VENIZELOS: Thank you Madam President. Honourable Members, you understand how important it is for the Hellenic Presidency of the Council, which attaches such great importance to cultural heritage, to participate in this debate, representing the Council.

The Directive on the return of cultural goods unlawfully removed from a territory of a Member State is an important tool for the European Union to combat the illegal trafficking in cultural goods, which has become one of the most widespread forms of organized crime.

However, the 1993 return mechanism established under this directive did not meet expectations. This was due to short deadlines, the eligibility criteria, the cost of compensation and the lack of administrative cooperation.

The text which we have agreed with you constitutes a significant improvement. I will briefly list the main elements:

1.  First, by deleting the annex which contained categories of cultural objects eligible for return, we have enabled the return of any cultural object that a Member State considers as a part of its national treasures due to the particular artistic, historic or archaeological value of such an object.
2. Second, by extending various procedural deadlines, we have provided national authorities in charge of the return procedure with more time to carry out their work. The national authorities will now have 6 months, instead of 2 months, to check whether an object found in another Member State is a "cultural object". The time for initiating a return proceeding before a competent court has also been extended from 1 year to 3 years.
3. Third, by introducing the Internal Market Information System, we have equipped the responsible national authorities with a tool which will improve administrative cooperation and the exchange of information. This new system will speed up cooperation and reduce costs.
4.  And, finally, the most important feature of the directive is the fact that the payment of compensation is subject to the obligation by the possessor to prove that he or she exercised due care and attention. The directive has thus introduced uniform rules across all Member States by placing the burden of proof on the possessor. This measure is key to preventing and combatting the illegal trafficking in cultural objects as it will create the same conditions for all those involved in the art market.

I am glad that we have met our goal of reaching an agreement in less than one year. We can be very satisfied at the outcome. This - of course - would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of Ms Marie-Christine Vergiat, rapporteur for this file, whom I would like to thank in particular. I would also like to thank the chair of the CULT Committee, Ms Doris Pack, for contributing constructively to the negotiation process. Obviously, I would like to thank Commissioner Tajani, as well – the European Commission. Finally, I would like to highlight the interest that shadow rapporteurs have shown in this dossier and thank them for their time and expertise.

• I am very well aware of what it means for a country to lose its cultural heritage, when it loses important national treasures. Speaking not on behalf of the Council, but as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Greek government, I cannot but refer, at the opportunity of this debate, to the return to Athens of the Parthenon Marbles, the pre-eminent monument of western civilization. As of 1999, the Hellenic Parliament has issued a written Statement, according to which the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece would be a key opportunity to promote Europe’s common cultural heritage. And we need to underscore this on the occasion of the updating and improvement of the Directive on the Return of Cultural Objects. This is a monument that sees its architectural components dispersed. The New Acropolis Museum, where we are hosting all of the working dinners for all the Ministers and other personnel visiting Athens within the framework of the Hellenic Presidency, is our main argument for the need to reunify the monument and for the return of the Parthenon Marbles.

• Naturally, I must also refer to the damage that has been suffered by the cultural heritage of Cyprus since the military invasion of 1974, which struck the island’s archaeological and other cultural treasures in a very characteristic manner.

Ladies and gentlemen MEPs, in approving this Directive, the European Parliament is sending the message that, for our Europe, the cultural dimension, the dimension of cultural heritage, of the common historical conscience of Europe, is always of vital importance.

Thank you.”

[mfa.gr]

16/4/14

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• Statements of Deputy PM and FM Venizelos and the Chairman of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, David Hill. -Hellenic MoFA

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