Cuardaigh

Do thorthaí

Ag taispeáint 4 as 4 torthaí

Illicit trade in cultural goods

Briefing 25-07-2017

Illicit trade (or trafficking) in cultural goods is defined by the European Commission as the 'illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property, i.e. items being of importance for archaeology, prehistory, history, literature, art or science' and is characterised as ranging 'from theft from cultural heritage institutions or private collections, through looting of archaeological sites to the displacement of artefacts due to war'. The European Commission points out that trafficking ...

Cultural heritage is vulnerable. Composed of historic buildings, monuments and artefacts of artistic, historic, religious, scientific or technological importance, it contributes to national identities, but can be destroyed in military conflict. The value and rarity of many cultural artefacts exposes them to human greed: they are vulnerable – especially during times of conflict – to being illegally removed from archaeological sites, stolen from museums, trafficked and sold to private collections. ...

Illegal trafficking of cultural objects is one of the most profitable of criminal activities. The European Union, with its border-free internal market and substantial cultural and historical heritage, is considered to be particularly affected by such illegal trade.

This Study has discovered many achievements associated with European support for scientific and technological research for the protection and conservation of cultural heritage.