In the framework of the cooperation between UNESCO and the European Union, a series of projects have been supported by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) and implemented by UNESCO:
• Training the European judiciary and law enforcement officials on the fight against the illicit trafficking
in cultural property (2018-2019)
• Engaging the European art market in the fight against the illicit trafficking in cultural property (2016-2018)
Click here to find out more about the current project (2019-2022).
Click here for resources and outcomes of the EU-funded projects.
Training the European judiciary and law enforcement on the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property
The project consisted of several activities: a training seminar; a practical guide; a temporary learning platform; and an awareness-raising video that you can find here.
The Training Workshop
Click here to access the results of the training workshop.
In November 2018, a three-day training workshop brought together judicial, police and customs representatives from 31 European countries. The representatives had the opportunity to enhance their knowledge on various topics such as the economic and security consequences of the illicit trafficking in cultural property, the international and European legal framework in this field, investigation and cooperation techniques based on targeted interventions of national experts and the contact with numerous organisations involved alongside UNESCO in the fight against trafficking in cultural property (INTERPOL, WCO, UNIDROIT, EUROPOL, EUROJUST et al.). Participants had the occasion to exchange with each other and create a professional network.
The partners agreed to make part of the content presented during the seminar available to the general public in order to allow everyone to understand the issues related to this type of organised crime (see below).
Selection of presentations (PDF version) :
Antonio ROMA VALDES, Fiscal Coordinator of Cooperation between Judicial Systems, El PAcCTO, Kingdom of Spain: click here to see the presentation.
Marja VAN HEESE, Senior Inspector, Cultural Heritage Inspectorate, Kingdom of the Netherlands: click here to see the presentation.
Yann BRUN, Safety Advisor at the Mission of Security, Safety and Accessibility at the Ministry of Culture, French Republic: click here to see the presentation.
Marina SCHNEIDER, Senior Legal Adviser and Treaty Depositary, UNIDROIT: click here to see the presentation.
Dennis COSGROVE, Head of the Security and Border Management Unit, Transnational Threats Department, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE): click here to see the presentation.
Jagganaden MUNEESAMY, Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC): click here to see the presentation.
Giacomo ZUCCHELLI, Accredited EU Parliamentary Assistant, co-rapporteur on the Regulation on the import of cultural goods: click here to see the presentation.
Angelo FELICETTI, Expert, UNSMT: click here to see the presentation.
Chiara BELLANI, Representative of the Directorate-General for Education and Culture, European Commission: click here to see the presentation.
Michael WILL, Organised Property Crime Unit, EUROPOL: click here to see the presentation.
The Toolkit
In November 2018, the workshop was also the occasion to officially launch the Toolkit for European Judiciary and Law Enforcement Authorities in the Fight against Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property. Designed as a self-training compendium, the toolkit aims to strengthen the capacities and knowledge of these two professions through practical exercises and the provision of all relevant legal references.
The temporary e-Learning Platform
During the project, an e-learning platform (MOOC) was made available, specifically dedicated to judiciary, customs and police professionals. This temporary platform was composed of two parts:
- A detailed training course explaining the organisation and functioning of this type of trafficking while providing an overview of key concepts, investigation techniques, databases, legal tools and practical examples to combat it;
- An international online-exchange platform for exchanging best practices, meeting other European colleagues and sharing the latest news.
Find out more about the e-learning here, and on the resources page.
The Video: The trail of stolen cultural objects - stopping trafficking and saving culture
This video aims to illustrate the link between the illicit trafficking of cultural property and organised crime. This video makes no reference to licit art market practices.
Engaging the European art market in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property (2016-2018)
This project, supported by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Culture (DG EAC) and implemented by UNESCO, aimed to raise awareness among public and private art market actors in the European Union (EU) Member States of the need to protect cultural heritage, and of the implications of illicit trade for the financing of terrorism, organised crime and money laundering. Ultimately, the project aimed at strengthening cooperation between European art market professionals and public authorities, including through the exchange of best practices.
The project had two central elements: a capacity development conference and a temporary e-learning and knowledge-sharing platform.
The Conference
In March 2018, the two-day conference brought together representatives of EU Member State governments, regional interest groups and professionals. Capacity development was provided by experts and representatives of UNESCO and its institutional partners in the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property.
The Platform (MOOC)
An e-learning and knowledge-sharing web platform was accessible during the project to allow the public to learn and inform itself about the subject. The platform presented all relevant elements on how to engage in the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property - also focusing on the role of due diligence.
Main features of the MOOC:
- Raise awareness of the legal framework for the fight against illicit trafficking in cultural property;
- Implementation of the principles of due diligence;
- Cooperation between European art market professionals and public authorities;
- Reinforce and promote good practices within the European art market. Read more
All videos of this MOOC are available on our resources page.
For more information:
- Study on the legal framework of due diligence - Prof M. Cornu
- Study on art trade and illicit trafficking in cultural goods - Prof M.-A. Renold