Greece and Italy form a joint front against the illicit trafficking of cultural property

Greece and Italy are joining forces to protect cultural heritage. A joint Greek–Italian team of scientists is documenting, identifying, and conserving, in both countries, significant groups of ceramic artefacts—primarily from Attic workshops—originating from illicit excavations.

The focus of the Greek–Italian cooperation is the restoration of fragmented vessels, with the ultimate aim of returning to each country an equal number of fully restored archaeological finds. In this way, the initiative contributes to the safeguarding of cultural heritage while faithfully implementing the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the illicit trafficking of cultural property.
The work is being carried out under the coordination and scientific supervision of archaeologists and conservators from the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, the Italian Ministry of Culture, and the University of Basilicata. Within this framework, the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki makes a substantial contribution to the protection of Greece’s cultural heritage.

The initiative to establish this joint team is the outcome of bilateral contacts between Greece’s Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, and her Italian counterpart, Alessandro Giuli, in June 2025 in Athens. A key milestone was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the joint management of antiquities that had been in the possession of the liquidators of Robin Symes Ltd.

The Memorandum was signed by the Director General of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage, Olympia Vikatou, and the Head of the Cultural Heritage Protection Department of the Italian Ministry of Culture, Luigi La Rocca. The work began in September 2025 at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki and has continued systematically ever since. The project is developing in a climate of close cooperation and mutual trust, while the first results are already visible, confirming the effectiveness of the joint effort and further strengthening cultural relations between Greece and Italy.

Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated:

“The cooperation between Greece and Italy in protecting cultural heritage is tangible proof that our shared historical responsibility can be transformed into meaningful and effective action. The systematic documentation, conservation, and restoration of antiquities originating from illicit excavations is not only a high-level scientific undertaking, but also an act of profound ethical and institutional consistency. With mutual trust and respect, Greece and Italy are upholding the principles of the 1970 UNESCO Convention, sending a clear message against the illegal trafficking of cultural property and in favor of international cooperation to safeguard our shared cultural heritage.”

Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli noted:

“Combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property is a shared priority for our governments, and the recovery of stolen works of art is an achievement of which our ministries can be proud. Italy and Greece are committed to strengthening their cooperation through transparent collaboration and the exchange of expertise—from restoration and training to the protection and management of archaeological sites. Our common goal is also to promote a more sustainable approach to cultural tourism, to highlight lesser-known archaeological sites, and to develop alternative cultural routes alongside major destinations.”