On the return of Romanian national treasure illegally appropriated by Russia
B-9-2024-0180
on behalf of the PPE Group · Rapporteur: Michael Gahler, Eugen Tomac, Traian Băsescu, Rasa Juknevičienė, Andrius Kubilius
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Parliament calls for the return of Romania's national treasure, which it says Russia illegally appropriated, including 91.5 tonnes of fine gold from the National Bank of Romania and cultural goods.¶¶¶ It asks the Commission to widen EU cultural-goods policy to cover national treasures moved during wartime under bilateral agreements, and to put the return on the EU-Russia diplomatic agenda when dialogue resumes.¶¶ It also asks the Commission to work with Romania and the National Bank of Romania, and to consider joining the Romanian-Russian Joint Commission of experts.¶¶
Key points
- Recalls that Romania's national treasure was entrusted to Russia for safekeeping under an agreement with legal guarantees of return, and that these obligations were disregarded.¶¶
- States that dozens of train carriages carried the treasure to Tsarist Russia in 1916 and 1917, including 91.5 tonnes of fine gold, royal jewels, rare coins, archives, manuscripts, paintings and books.¶
- Notes that most cultural, artistic and archival goods were returned in 1935 and 1956, but none of the outstanding 91.5 tonnes of fine gold has been returned.¶
- Expresses concern that bilateral diplomatic efforts through the Romanian-Russian Joint Commission have met with reluctance on Russia's part to return what previous regimes kept.¶
- Considers that Russia's invasion of Ukraine must lead to a reassessment of EU-Russia relations, including requests such as the return of the gold reserves to the National Bank of Romania.¶
- Highlights that special attention must be paid to preserving Member States' national treasures, as stipulated in the EU Treaties.¶
- Welcomes EU efforts to protect heritage and combat trafficking in cultural goods, and says unlawfully removed cultural objects must be returned whether relocated within the Union or exported to a non-EU state.¶
- Says the repatriation of the Romanian national treasure is a special case requiring a specific solution and a tailor-made European response.¶
- Emphasises that returning an EU Member State's cultural assets and national treasures unlawfully retained by a non-EU state requires substantial diplomatic dialogue, bilaterally and in international forums.¶
- Calls on the Commission to expand EU policies on protecting cultural goods to include the recovery of national treasures relocated during wartime under bilateral agreements between states.¶
- Calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service to put the return of the Romanian national treasure on the EU-Russia diplomatic agenda once political dialogue resumes.¶
- Calls on the Commission to work with the Romanian State and the National Bank of Romania, and to explore acting as a partner to Romanian representatives in the Romanian-Russian Joint Commission.¶¶
Who is affected
- Romania: the resolution supports its claim to the national treasure and its gold reserves.¶¶
- The National Bank of Romania: its gold reserves are the subject of the return request.¶
- The Commission: asked to widen EU cultural-goods policy and to work with Romania.¶
- The European External Action Service: asked to put the return on the EU-Russia diplomatic agenda.¶
- Russia: the resolution says it illegally appropriated the treasure and has not returned the gold.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- 91.5 tonnes of fine gold belonging to the reserves of the National Bank of Romania¶¶
- 1916 and 1917: years the treasure was evacuated to Moscow¶
- 1935 and 1956: years most cultural, artistic and archival goods were returned to Romania¶
- 1 January 1993: date used in current EU legislation on return of cultural goods unlawfully removed¶
Legal basis: Articles 6, 36 and 167 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and the preamble and Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union¶¶