Council Directive 93/7/EEC of 15 March 1993 on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State

Council Directive 93/7/EEC is a measure in support of the internal market policy in the European Union which objective is to reconcile the fundamental principle of the free movement of goods in the European Union with the protection of national treasures.

Directive 93/7/EEC enables Member States to secure the return of unlawfully removed cultural objects that are classified as “national treasures” and are listed in its annex. The Directive applies to cultural objects which left the territory of a Member State after the 1st. January 1993 and are located in the territory of another Member State of the European Union.

Directive 93/7/EEC set up mechanisms for administrative cooperation between the national authorities of the Member States and a return procedure before the competent court in the Member State where the cultural object is located.

The European Commission has drafted several reports reviewing the application of this Directive and, on the basis of the results of these evaluations, has proposed to the European Parliament and to the Council of the European Union a new proposal for a Directive on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State.

For further details, please see at the following link.