Greece has apparently managed to get a clause for the return of the Parthenon Marbles in the draft Brexit bill prepared by the European Union. The clause is included in a revised version of the negotiating mandate that Michel Barnier, the European Commission’s Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom, is expected to use when talks resume next week.
The clause speaks of “unlawfully removed cultural objects” that the EU will have to address their “return or restitution to the countries of origin.”
Greece is reportedly said to be concerned about co-operation with UK on art trafficking, as London is a center for art and auction houses
The clause has been reportedly added on request from Greece, Cyprus, and Italy.
It is unclear what this clause relates to. Bloomberg cites one official describing it as “a direct reference” to the Elgin or Parthenon Marbles – however a Greek official insisted this was not a condition for a deal, notes UK’s cityam
In an article with title “Fears raised that EU will back Greece over return of Elgin Marbles in Brexit trade talks, also The Telegraph notes that “Greece has denied the clause refers to the Elgin Marbles and is intended to fight the illicit trade in antiquities.”
Citing a diplomatic source, Greek news agency amna writes that the clause has “nothing to do” with the Greek-British dispute over the Parthenon Sculptures, which are on display at the British Museum in London.
“The purpose of this article is to ensure that stolen cultural property located on British soil is automatically returned,” the source said.
“It’s to do with the fact that London auction houses play a big role in trade in historical goods, notes the Financial Times correspondent in Brussels who also circulated the new clause online.
Could this be a reference to the Elgin marbles? 3/ pic.twitter.com/BMrZrZOssZ
— Jim Brunsden (@jimbrunsden) February 18, 2020
End of January, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni has stated that “Brexit will strengthen European support for Parthenon Marbles return. However, she did not mention that Greece would try to add a clause in the EU-UK trade deal.
In 2018, SYRIZA MEPS had written to the European Commission to include the Return of the Parthenon Marbles into the Brexit deal.
Worth noting that the idea that “The Parthenon Marbles could be apart of the Brexit deal between UK and the European Union,” came from Geoffrey Robertson in 2017. Robertson is head of the UK law firm Head of Doughty Street Chambers, the law firm Greece briefly hired three years earlier to claim the Parthenon Marbles back.
Anyway, so far, there has been no official statement by Greece on the Marbles Return clause.
PS If the EU will indeed call for the return of “unlawfully removed cultural objects” the British Museum will be soon pretty empty – and can serve as playground for the Brexiters’ children incl. those of Boris Johnson.
