Is éard atá i gceist le gáinneáil ar earraí cultúir iompórtáil/allmhairiú, easpórtáil/onnmhairiú agus aistriú aindleathach úinéireachta maoine cultúrtha (míreanna a bhfuil tábhacht ag baint leo ó thaobh na seandálaíochta, na réamhstaire, na staire, na litríochta, na healaíne nó na heolaíochta). Bíonn foirmeacha éagsúla i gceist leis, cuir i gcás:
- goid ó institiúidí oidhreachta cultúrtha nó ó bhailiúcháin phríobháideacha
- creachadh láithreán seandálaíochta
- díláithriú déantán de dheasca cogaidh
Chun an oidhreacht chultúrtha a chosaint go héifeachtúil i gcoinne gáinneáil aindleathach, tá gá le creat reachtach fónta, le comhar idirnáisiúnta agus le bonn daingean fianaise agus tionscadail spriocdhírithe.
Creat reachtach an Aontais
Le Treoir 2014/60/AE ó Pharlaimint na hEorpa agus ón gComhairle maidir le réada cultúrtha a aistríodh go mídhleathach ó chríoch Ballstáit a fháil ar ais, tugadh isteach socruithe lena gcuirtear ar chumas Bhallstáit an Aontais a chinntiú go dtabharfar ar ais dá gcríoch réada cultúrtha a aistríodh de shárú ar bhearta náisiúnta.
Cinntítear le Rialachán (CE) Uimh. 116/2009 ón gComhairle maidir le hearraí cultúir a onnmhairiú go mbeidh na hearraí sin faoi réir rialuithe aonfhoirmeacha ag teorainneacha seachtracha an Aontais. Déanann sé sin trí easpórtálacha a chur faoi réir thíolacadh ceadúnais easpórtála. Is féidir le daoine aonair an doiciméad sin a fháil trí údaráis inniúla na mBallstát. Tá an doiciméad bailí ar fud an Aontais.
I Rialachán (AE) 2019/880 ó Pharlaimint na hEorpa agus ón gComhairle an 17 Aibreán 2019 maidir le hearraí cultúir a thabhairt isteach agus a allmhairiú, leagtar síos rialacha maidir le hearraí cultúir a easpórtáiltear óna dtír thionscnaimh a iompórtáil isteach san Aontas.
Comhar idirnáisiúnta
Le hionstraimí éagsúla, rialaítear an comhrac i gcoinne na gáinneála aindleathaí ar earraí cultúir go hidirnáisiúnta. Ar an ionstraim is tábhachtaí díobh, tá Coinbhinsiún UNESCO 1970 maidir le Modhanna chun Allmhairiú, Onnmhairiú agus Aistriú Aindleathach Úinéireachta Maoine Cultúrtha a Thoirmeasc agus a Chosc.
UNESCO
Is comhpháirtí de chuid an Aontais í Eagraíocht Oideachais, Eolaíochta agus Chultúir na Náisiún Aontaithe (UNESCO), comhpháirtí iontaofa a bhfuil taithí aige sa chomhrac i gcoinne na trádála aindleathaí in earraí cultúir agus a chuireann roinnt tionscadal atá maoinithe ag an Aontas chun feidhme:
Margadh ealaíne na hEorpa a spreagadh sa chomhrac i gcoinne na gáinneála aindleathaí ar mhaoin chultúrtha
Leis an tionscadal seo a chuir UNESCO chun feidhme, cuireadh oiliúint ar fáil maidir le dícheall cuí, leis na beartais agus na rialacháin atá ann cheana ar an leibhéal idirnáisiúnta agus ar leibhéal an Aontais Eorpaigh, chomh maith le ról na bpóilíní agus custam, agus ról gáinneála aindleathaí agus na coireanna gaolmhara.
Tuilleadh eolais faoin tionscadal.
Sraith straitéisí do bhreithiúna agus oifigigh forfheidhmithe an dlí san Eoraip
D'oibrigh an tAontas Eorpach i gcomhar le UNESCO in 2018 maidir le hoiliúint a chur ar údaráis bhreithiúnacha agus údaráis forfheidhmithe sna Ballstáit i dtaobh sainaithint, imscrúdú agus comhar i ndáil le gáinneáil aindleathach. D'eagraigh lucht an tionscadail modúil oiliúna le haghaidh na ngrúpaí ábhartha (cuir i gcás póilíní agus oifigigh chustaim) maidir leis an gcoireacht a bhaineann le maoin chultúrtha a chosc agus a imscrúdú.
Mar chuid den tionscadal, d’fhoilsigh na comheagraithe sraith straitéisí do bhreithiúna agus oifigigh forfheidhmithe an dlí san Eoraip.
Tuilleadh eolais faoin tionscadal.
An oidhreacht chultúrtha agus an éagsúlacht a chosaint in éigeandálaí casta ar mhaithe le cobhsaíocht agus le síocháin
Bhí sé d’aidhm ag an tionscadal oidhreacht chultúrtha na hIaráice, na Libia, na Siria agus Éimin, mar aon lena bpobail, a chobhsú agus a chosaint, rud a raibh práinn leis.
Tuilleadh eolais faoin tionscadal.
Gníomhaíocht idir-réigiúnach agus thrasearnálach le neartú a dhéanamh ar an gcomhrac i gcoinne na gáinneála aindleathaí ar mhaoin chultúrtha
Is é cuspóir uileghabhálach an tionscnaimh laghdú a dhéanamh ar an ngáinneáil aindleathach ar mhaoin chultúrtha san Aontas agus níos faide i gcéin. Tá an tionscadal seo á chur chun feidhme ag UNESCO agus díríonn sé ar thairbhithe
- i mBallstáit an Aontais Eorpaigh
- i dtíortha réamhaontachais sna Balcáin Thiar
- i dtíortha comhpháirtíochta den Ionstraim Eorpach Chomharsanachta (IEC) Theas.
Treisíonn an tionscadal scileanna príomhghairmithe agus spreagann sé sineirgí nua i measc réimse leathan gairmithe:
- ionadaithe ó údaráis oidhreachta cultúrtha agus ó mhúsaeim
- gairmithe ó earnáil na baincéireachta
- na meáin
- na breithiúna agus oifigigh forfheidhmithe dlí
- státseirbhísigh ó aireachtaí ábhartha.
Tá tuilleadh eolais le fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin UNESCO.
Comhar le comhlachtaí idirnáisiúnta eile
Oibríonn an tAontas leis na comhlachtaí idirnáisiúnta eile seo a leanas a bhfuil baint acu le cosaint na hoidhreachta cultúrtha:
- Comhairle na hEorpa
- Unidroit
- Interpol
- an Eagraíocht Dhomhanda Chustaim
Bonn daingean fianaise agus líonra eolais a chomhdhlúthú
Le staidéar a rinneadh in 2019 ar thrádáil aindleathach in earraí cultúir, cuidítear chun tuiscint níos fearr a chothú ar thrádáil aindleathach in earraí cultúir san Eoraip.
Cuireann an staidéar léargas ar fáil ar ghnéithe éagsúla na saincheiste seo, cuir i gcás foinsí, idirthuras agus cinn scríbe na n-earraí a thrádáiltear go haindleathach. Tarraingíonn sé aird ar bhealaí gáinneála, ar threochtaí agus patrúin na gáinneála agus na n-oibríochtaí trádála aindleathacha, mar aon leis na gníomhaithe lena mbaineann.
Pléann údair an staidéir cuir chuige maidir le méid na trádála aindleathaí sin a thomhas. Déanann siad iniúchadh ar fhreagairtí náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta an cheartais choiriúil ar an ngáinneáil ar earraí cultúir. Ag an am céanna, sainaithníonn siad freisin na dúshláin atá roimh na húdaráis forfheidmithe dlí ábhartha agus freagairtí éifeachtacha á gcur chun feidhme acu.
Tionscadail roghnaithe
NETCHER
Ba é tar éis na n-ionsaithe sceimhlitheoireachta i bPáras ag deireadh 2015 a tosaíodh ag obair ar choincheap an tionscadail 'NETCHER – NETwork and digital platform for Cultural Heritage Enhancing and Rebuilding’ [Líonra agus ardán digiteach chun an Oidhreacht Chultúrtha a Fheabhsú agus a Atógáil]. Cruthaíodh le himscrúduithe coiriúla gur foinse mhór mhaoinithe le haghaidh na sceimhlitheoireachta idirnáisiúnta í an gháinneáil ar sheaniarsmaí.
Bhunaigh rannpháirtithe an tionscadail seo líonra Eorpach d’oibreoirí ábhartha agus cairt dea-chleachtas ar fud na hEorpa chun an gháinneáil aindleathach ar sheaniarsmaí a chomhrac go héifeachtúil. Cuireann an tAontas maoiniú ar fáil don tionscadal seo tríd an gclár Fís 2020.
Tuilleadh eolais faoin tionscadal NETCHER.
Acmhainní úsáideacha eile maidir le gáinneáil aindleathach
- Eagraíocht Oideachais, Eolaíochta agus Chultúir na Náisiún Aontaithe (UNESCO)
- Coinbhinsiún Chomhairle na hEorpa maidir le Cionta a bhaineann le Maoin Chultúrtha
- Comhairle Idirnáisiúnta na Músaem: Gáinneáil Aindleathach a Chomhrac
- An Chomhairle Idirnáisiúnta um Shéadchomharthaí agus Shuíomhanna
- INTERPOL: gáinneáil ar earraí aindleathacha agus góchumadh
- an Eagraíocht Dhomhanda Chustaim
EU legislative framework
The European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/60/EU on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State introduced arrangements enabling EU Member States to secure the return of cultural objects to their territory that were removed in breach of national measures.
Council Regulation (EC) No 116/2009 on the export of cultural goods ensures uniform controls at the EU's external borders. It does so by subjecting exports to the presentation of an export licence. Individuals can obtain this document through the competent Member State authorities. This document is valid throughout the EU.
Regulation (EU) 2019/880 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the introduction and the import of cultural goods provides rules on imports into the EU of cultural goods exported from their country of origin.
International cooperation
Various instruments regulate the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural goods internationally. The most important of these instruments is the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a reliable and experienced partner of the EU in combatting the illicit trade of cultural goods, which has implemented several EU-funded projects:
Engaging the European art market in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property
This project provided trainings on due diligence, existing policies and regulations at the international and EU level as well as on the role of police and customs and illicit trafficking and related crimes.
A toolkit for European Judiciary and law enforcement
In 2018, EU and UNESCO cooperated on a project aiming to train judicial and enforcement authorities in the Member States for identification, investigation and cooperation on illicit trafficking. As part of the project the co-organisers published a toolkit for European Judiciary and law enforcement.
Protecting Cultural Heritage and Diversity in Complex Emergencies for Stability and Peace
This project aimed to stabilize and to urgently safeguard the population and cultural heritage of Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen.
Inter-regional and cross-cutting action to strengthen the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property
This project addressed beneficiaries in the EU Member States, pre-accession countries of the Western Balkans and partner countries of the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) South.
The project has reinforced the skills of key professionals and stimulated new synergies among a wide range of professionals:
- representatives from cultural heritage authorities and museums
- professionals from the banking sector
- the media
- judiciary and law enforcement officials
- civil servants for relevant ministries.
Cooperation with other international bodies
The EU works with other international bodies involved in the protection of cultural heritage:
- Council of Europe
- International Council of Museums
- Interpol
- Unidroit
- World Customs Organization
Consolidating a solid base of evidence and information network
A 2019 study on illicit trade in cultural goods contributes to a better understanding of the illicit trade in cultural goods in Europe.
The study provides insights into the various aspects of this issue, such as the sources, transit and destinations of illicitly traded goods. It sheds light on trafficking routes, trends and patterns of trafficking and illicit trade operations, as well as the actors involved.
The authors of the study discuss approaches to measuring the volume of this illicit trade. They explore national and international criminal justice responses to trafficking in cultural goods. At the same time, they also identify the challenges that relevant law enforcement authorities face when implementing effective responses.
Selected ongoing projects
PITCHER - Preventing Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Heritage: Educational Resources
The EU supports the creation of teaching material on the protection of cultural heritage through the Erasmus+ programme. The general objective of the PITCHER project is to design and test a set of open educational resources for educators’ capacity to prepare new learning experiences which support the fight against looting and illicit trafficking of cultural goods.
Three projects have received a grant under under Cluster 2 “Culture, creativity and inclusive society” of the Horizon Europe Programme for the years 2023-2025
ENIGMA - endorsing safeguarding, protection, and provenance management of cultural heritage
ENIGMA shall achieve excellence in the protection of cultural goods and artefacts from man-made threats by contributing to identification, traceability, and provenance research of cultural goods as well as by safeguarding and monitoring endangered heritage sites. ENIGMA objectives are designed to help the involved stakeholders better respond to this complex, and multi-dimensional problem, and leverage active collaboration by fostering and enabling interlinking of databases, and evidence-based deployment of preventative measures.
AURORA - Artwork Unique Recognition and Tracking through chemical encoded data, miniaturized devices and blockchain alliance
The AURORA project aims to demonstrate how chemical marking, miniaturised device, art deep-scan technique, cloud and blockchain based platforms can be combined to create a cost-effective, non-destructive, and non-invasive countermeasure against illegal activities while preserving artifacts. The technologies researched and implemented in AURORA will converge in a digital tool allowing relevant stakeholders, art dealers, curators, auction houses, logistic services, and enforcement agents to easily verify artwork authenticity and provenance, enabling art piece movement tracking.
ANCHISE - Applying New solutions for Cultural Heritage protection by Innovative, Scientific, social and economic Engagement
Crossing the methodology of networking with the innovative results of new technologies developments (3D/ photogrammetry for site monitoring, data engineering and AI for border control object identification and heritage collection protection, spectral fluorescence signature for object authentication), ANCHISE will create an operational set of tools applicable for European contexts and replicable in other situations abroad. The aim of the project is to bring coordinated solutions to the key existing needs in the domain of Cultural heritage protection: 1) Understand, 2) Prevent, 3) Act, 4) Repair.
Past projects
NETCHER
The idea of the project "NETCHER – NETwork and digital platform for Cultural Heritage Enhancing and Rebuilding" started to take shape after the terrorist attacks in Paris at the end of 2015. Criminal investigations proved that the trafficking of antiquities is a major source of funding for international terrorism.
The participants of this project set up a European network of relevant operators and a Europe-wide charter of good practices to efficiently fight the illicit trafficking of antiquities. The EU financed this project through the Horizon 2020 Programme.