Return of Romanian national treasure illegally appropriated by Russia
This resolution urges Russia to return Romania's national treasure, including gold reserves and cultural items, illegally kept since World War I. The European Parliament emphasizes that this is a breach of international law and bilateral agreements. The affected parties are primarily Romania, which seeks the return of its national assets, and Russia, which is called upon to comply with international obligations. The resolution also highlights the importance of cultural heritage for all EU Member States. The resolution calls for a tailored European response to facilitate the treasure's return, potentially expanding existing EU policies on cultural goods. It urges the Commission and the European External Action Service to prioritize this issue in diplomatic relations with Russia. The Romanian national treasure includes 91.5 tonnes of gold from the National Bank of Romania, royal jewels, rare coins, and cultural, religious, and archival items. While some items were returned in 1935 and 1956, the gold reserves remain unreturned.
Analysis
The 'Romanian national treasure' is defined as comprising 91.5 tonnes of fine gold from the National Bank of Romania's gold reserves, royal collections of jewels and rare coins, and cultural, religious, and archival goods belonging to Romania's national heritage.
What changes
- Urges the Russian Federation to fully return the remainder of Romania's national treasure sent to Russia for safekeeping in 1916 and 1917.
- Calls on the Commission to expand the scope of EU policies governing the protection of cultural goods to include the recovery of national treasures relocated during wartime under bilateral agreements.
- Calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service to include the return of the Romanian national treasure on the diplomatic bilateral agenda governing EU-Russia relations when political dialogue can resume.
- Calls on the Commission to create concrete synergies with Romanian State institutions to pursue diplomatic means, promote communication with Russian counterparts, and seek solutions for the return of the national treasure.
- Calls on the Commission to explore the possibility of acting as a partner to Romanian representatives involved in the Romanian-Russian Joint Commission.
Expected impact
- The restitution of the appropriated Romanian national treasure is considered of great importance for the institutional and national memory of Romania.
- The restitution of cultural heritage unlawfully seized from its country of origin is crucial for the protection of the universal value of cultural heritage.
- The resolution calls for expanding the scope of EU policies governing the protection of cultural goods to include the recovery of national treasures relocated during wartime under bilateral agreements.
Limitations
- The document does not provide specific details on the current location or condition of the remaining national treasure.
- The document does not outline the specific legal mechanisms or diplomatic strategies that will be employed to facilitate the return of the treasure.
- The document does not contain information regarding the potential economic value of the returned national treasure.
- The document does not detail the response or actions taken by the Russian Federation regarding the calls for the return of the treasure.
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