MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – European collaboration to protect cultural heritage – Commission measures to recover priceless Dacian artefacts following the heist at the Drents Museum – P-000330/2025(ASW)

In line with the EU action plan against trafficking in cultural goods[1] the Commissions supports Member States in tackling cultural goods theft.

1. The EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation[2] supports the setup of joint investigation teams for cross-border investigations into cultural goods trafficking. Romania and the Netherlands have set up a joint investigation team regarding the theft from the Drents Museum[3]. The EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation[4] has a special point of contact for cultural goods trafficking. U nder the EU-funded European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats[5], there are dedicated operational actions against cultural goods trafficking.

2. Beyond these operational actions, the Commission continues implementing the EU action plan. The EU is funding projects[6] that address the challenging issue of cultural goods trafficking. Measures include law enforcement capacity building, tools to detect trafficked items and monitor online marketplaces, protection of cultural heritage sites by drones or satellite imagery, supporting practitioners’ networks and awareness raising.

The Commission has also launched a project with the International Council of Museums[7], including support to a selected number of museums.

The Commission furthermore is conducting a study on improving traceability of cultural goods in the EU, to provide recommendations to Member States on setting up stolen cultural goods databases.

• [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52022DC0800
• [2] https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/
• [3] https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/news/romania-and-netherlands-set-joint-investigation-team-theft-precious-historic-art-dutch-museum
• [4] https://www.europol.europa.eu/
• [5] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/law-enforcement-cooperation/empact-fighting-crime-together_en
• [6] For examples of projects see https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/2cbbe3d2-a55c-11ef-85f0-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
• [7] https://icom.museum/en/