WRITTEN QUESTION E-2826/99 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council. Looting and trafficking in cultural objects of value in Kosovo.
Date: 2000-01-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Kosovo, art trade, cultural cooperation, cultural heritage, heritage protection, illicit trade, monument, work of art

21.11.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/61

national investment plan for the period 1999(cid:141)2002 where priority was given to those projects for which
building permits are already available. The Commission considers that the financial aid granted so far has
already contributed to reducing the financial difficulties of the Amberg (cid:129) Waidhaus project.

(1) Decision No 1692/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community Guidelines for the

development of the trans-European transport network (cid:129) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(2) TINA: Transport Infrastructure Needs Assessment, initiated in the context of the structured dialogue between the
Transport Council of the Community and the Transport Ministers of the associated countries in 1995; final report
published in October 1999.

(3) Council Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 of 18 September 1995 laying down general rules for the granting of
Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks, OJ L 228, 23.9.1995 amended by Regulation
(EC) No 1655/1999 of the Parliament and the Council of 19 July 1999.

(2000/C 330 E/066)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2826/99

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council

(17 January 2000)

Subject: Looting and trafficking in cultural objects of value in Kosovo

Press reports claim that instances of the looting of monuments in Kosovo and trafficking in valuable
objects stolen from them are constantly increasing in number, while no effort at all is being made to
protect and save them. Archaeological monuments dating from Hellenic and Roman times, monasteries
and churches containing priceless relics handed down through the centuries are now defenceless against
marauding looters. No effort has yet been made to track down the perpetrators or to protect monuments
from looting and there is, therefore, an immediate risk that priceless cultural objects will be destroyed or
disappear.

Has the Council taken any action to protect the monuments of Kosovo, which form part of the European
cultural heritage, and what steps does it intend to take in the future to stamp out the trafficking in such
objects?

Reply

(2 May 2000)

The Council is aware of the threats to the historic heritage of Kosovo. The question of the protection of
sites and monuments of great cultural and/or religious value has been raised several times at Council
meetings.

Article 151(3) of the Treaty establishing the European Community stipulates inter alia that (cid:145)the Commun-
ity and the Member States shall foster cooperation with third countries and the competent international
organisations in the sphere of culture, in particular the Council of Europe.(cid:146)

Implementation of
Parliament and to the Council.

this provision requires the Commission to submit a proposal

to the European

On 28 June 1999, at the meeting of Ministers for Culture and Audiovisual Matters, the Council invited the
Commission to draw up a report on the current situation in the field, and a list of the measures taken until
then. The European Commission promised to do so by the beginning of autumn 1999. The Council also
stated that it favoured the idea of extending the mandate of the Agency for Reconstruction to culture.

On 23 November 1999, it discussed the issue again on the basis of a report from the Commission on
cultural actions implemented by the European Union,
in the context of reconstruction aid aimed at
Kosovo. This report contained proposals which addressed some of the concerns expressed by the Council.