Cultural Europe, international cooperation on crimes involving cultural property

Illicit trading, stealing and looting cultural property is an ancient and global phenomenon. Different factors such as improved communication networks, easier travelling possibilities and the increase of value influence these types of crimes in a negative way. National legislation differs widely and these types of crimes have long not been a priority. The protection of cultural heritage against illicit trafficking has tended to be rather a one-sided exercise, since it has in effect involved only the so-called “exporting” States. Most of the “importing” nations have held aloof from such international cooperation schemes where they existed.