On Thursday 27 September, MEPs at the internal market and international trade committees at the European Parliament strengthened the legislative proposal for introducing a European framework for imports of cultural goods into the European Union. This was voted for by a large majority (56 vote in favour, 4 against, 3 abstentions).
This legislative proposal defines the notion of cultural goods at an EU level and is aimed at combating a widespread blackmarket that can also used to help fund terrorism (see EUROPE 11829). European rules are currently only targeting imports of goods from Iraq and Syria.
Cultural goods cover archaeological works, fragments of monuments, early printed books, manuscripts, drawings and engravings, photographs and books.
MEPs got rid of the minimum 250 year age limit for cultural goods to be covered by the legislative proposal. According to a press release from the European Parliament, they introduced financial minimum values in its place. The EPP Group, however, mentioned a 100 year threshold.
All cultural goods must be accompanied by an import license from the exporting country or a declaration by the importer. MEPs considered that license requests must be made online in order to facilitate procedures and strengthen legal certainty.
The customs authorities will have a remit for intercepting and temporarily retaining cultural goods when the legality of the cultural goods imported have not been demonstrated.
The rapporteur for the international trade committee, Alessia Maria Mosca (S&D, Italy), said that the European Parliament was sending out “a strong message in support of a value-based trade policy”. She also explained that “Today we made a step towards the effective protection of cultural heritage, which is endangered by one of the most lucrative and dangerous illegal traffic globally".
Her counterpart at the internal market committee, Daniel Dalton (ECR, United Kingdom), however, expressed his disappointment.
The EPP considered that the rules currently being developed would help to efficiently fight the trafficking of cultural goods, without involving higher costs to the art community. The EPP also welcomed the introduction of “red lists” into the International Museum Council text. These red lists will act as filters for determining the categories of cultural goods requiring a license. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)