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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2024/2605(RSP))

On the return of Romanian national treasure illegally appropriated by Russia

B-9-2024-0178

on behalf of the Renew Group · Rapporteur: VladMarius Botoş, Petras Auštrevičius, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Dita Charanzová, Vlad Gheorghe, Bernard Guetta, Karin Karlsbro, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Urmas Paet, Dragoş Pîslaru, Ramona Strugariu, Hilde Vautmans

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 26 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This is a motion for a resolution on the return of Romanian national treasure appropriated by Russia. It deplores Russia's failure to return the treasure and calls on the Russian Government to return the remainder of the treasure sent to Moscow in 1916 and 1917. It calls on the EU and member states to support Romania's efforts, to raise awareness and coordinate actions, and to put the return of the treasure on their diplomatic agenda with Russia. It asks for a reassessment of EU-Russia relations and for the return of stolen national treasures to be a condition in future EU relations with Russia. It calls for broadening EU policies on cultural goods to cover treasures relocated under bilateral agreements and for a tailor-made European response.

Key points

  1. Deplores Russia's failure to fully return the Romanian national treasure, as set out in bilateral agreements and expected under international law.
  2. Expresses dismay that Russia has shown reluctance to return the treasure despite negotiations and the work of the Romanian-Russian Joint Commission of experts.
  3. Calls on the Russian Government to take the necessary steps to fully return the remainder of the treasure sent to Moscow in 1916 and 1917.
  4. Calls for the EU and member states to support Romania's efforts and cooperate with the Romanian State and the National Bank of Romania to raise awareness and coordinate actions.
  5. Calls for the EU and member states to include the return of the treasure on their diplomatic agenda with Russia, and for a thorough analysis of treasures of countries that suffered Soviet and Tsarist Russian occupation and repression.
  6. Calls for a more significant and comprehensive reassessment of EU-Russia relations, and insists that the return of stolen national treasures be a condition in future EU relations with Russia.
  7. Welcomes the EU's efforts to protect cultural heritage through legislation and cooperation mechanisms and to combat traffic in cultural objects.
  8. Calls for broadening the scope of EU policies on cultural goods to cover treasures relocated under bilateral agreements, and for a tailor-made European response to the Romanian treasure's appropriation.

Who is affected

  • Romania: the resolution supports its efforts to reclaim its national treasure.
  • The Russian Government: it is called on to return the remainder of the treasure.
  • EU member states: they are asked to support Romania and coordinate actions.
  • The EU: it is asked to reassess relations with Russia and broaden cultural goods policies.

Figures and deadlines

  • 91.48 tonnes of fine gold, part of the National Bank of Romania treasure.
  • Two train transports in December 1916 and July 1917 transferred the treasure.
  • In 1935 and 1956, the Soviet Union agreed to return a portion of archives and items.
  • The Romanian-Russian Joint Commission met only five times over 15 years, last in 2019.

Legal basis: Articles 36 and 167 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.