Rome, 10 June 2026 - The European Public Law Organization (EPLO) hosted a bilateral meeting at Palazzo Altemps – Museo Nazionale Romano, headquarters of the EPLO Office in Rome, on the protection of cultural property, fight against illicit trafficking and restitutions.
The meeting was attended by Professor Spyridon Flogaitis, Director of EPLO, Professor Bernardo Giorgio Mattarella, Director of the EPLO Rome Office, and Professor Lorenzo Casini, Rector of the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, together with representatives of the Italian Ministry of Culture, the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture, the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (TPC), as experts in cultural heritage governance and international cooperation.
The meeting provided an opportunity for an in-depth exchange of views on the growing threats posed by looting, destruction, illicit trafficking and restitution of cultural property, particularly in situations of armed conflict and political instability. Participants examined the evolution of international legal frameworks aimed at protecting cultural property, while reflecting on existing challenges related to implementation, restitution procedures, and international cooperation.
Particular attention was devoted to the transnational dimension of cultural property and to the need for stronger cooperation among States, international organisations, law-enforcement authorities, and cultural institutions. Discussions also highlighted the increasing links between illicit trafficking, organised criminal networks, and broader security concerns, as well as the importance of developing coordinated responses capable of addressing these interconnected challenges.
The meeting also explored the contribution of specialised law-enforcement bodies to the protection of cultural property. In this context, the experience of the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (TPC) was addressed, internationally recognised for its investigative activities, recovery operations, technological innovation, and extensive cooperation with organisations such as INTERPOL, Europol, and Eurojust. Particular emphasis was placed on the role of information-sharing mechanisms, judicial cooperation instruments, and advanced technological tools in preventing and combating illicit trafficking.
A further area of discussion concerned cultural diplomacy and the restitution of cultural property. Participants reflected on recent international experiences, as well as on notable examples involving Italy and Greece, including the return of the Fagan Fragment to Greece in 2022, widely regarded as a landmark case of cultural diplomacy and international cooperation. These experiences demonstrate how restitution processes, alongside legal mechanisms, can contribute to dialogue, mutual trust, and cooperation among States. The broader role of cultural heritage in peacebuilding, post-conflict recovery, and intercultural understanding was also highlighted.
The meeting formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation between academic institutions, public authorities, international organisations, and specialised agencies working in the field of cultural heritage protection. It reaffirmed a shared commitment to promoting legal cooperation and multidisciplinary approaches aimed at safeguarding cultural property.
