WRITTEN QUESTION E-2035/96 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (19 July 1996)

Subject: Safeguarding Italy's artistic heritage

It is common knowledge that Italy possesses over half the world's artistic heritage. The Italian authorities, however, do not seem to be in a position to compile complete records of the country's treasures, despite the fact that they produced thousands of index cards in 1994 and computerized their existing archives - not least in view of the numerous thefts (in 1995 alone, a further 2 000 works went missing, bringing the total number stolen to nearly 34 000, compared with 32 500 up to the end of 1994) - and the police are constantly engaged in recovery operations.

Given that this heritage is so priceless, it is obvious that thefts, receiving stolen property, unauthorized digs, and trafficking in works of art cause immense damage, the repercussions of which extend not only to Italy, but to the whole world.

Will the Commission therefore ensure that the artistic heritage can be supervised and protected more stringently by establishing a kind of 'European monitoring system' to enable Member States to identify works of art more easily, especially those which are being exported illegally?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (3 October 1996)

In accordance of Article 36 of the EC Treaty and within the limits of that Article it is the responsibility of each Member State to take measures for the protection of its national treasures which have an artistic, historic or archaeological value and particularly measures for their inventory.

With a view to the achievement of the single market, the Council adopted Regulation EEC No 3911/92 of 9 December 1992 concerning the export of cultural goods ((OJ L 395, 31.12.1992. )) and Directive No 93/7/93 of 15 March 1993 concerning the restitution of cultural goods which have been illegally exported from the territory of a Member State ((OJ L 74, 27.3.1993. )).

As from the beginning of 1996, and in the context of the fourth research framework programme, a three year project (Grasp) has been launched which aims to develop a telematic system to allow registration of lost or stolen goods and reinforce support and cooperation between the police forces of some Member States.

Within the framework of the Community programme for the interchange of data between administrations in Europe (IDA), adopted by the Council on 6 November 1995 (Council Decision 95/468/EC ((OJ L 269, 11.11.1995. ))), the Community will support a project concerning the illegal traffic of cultural goods. Building upon the results of Grasp, this project aims to render operational a telematic system to help prevent such illegal traffic.

In the context of the Intergovernmental Conference and of the transfer of certain areas to the Community pillar, the Commission intends to ensure that the fight against fraud will be more effective. It suggests that a legal basis be established which would go beyond the mere protection of the Community's financial interests and combat fraud damaging the proper application of Community legislation (for example, the regulations governing the export of cultural goods).