A new draft of the EU’s mandate for talks with the U.K. inserts a clause about “unlawfully removed cultural objects.” This new text was been added on request from Greece, Cyprus, and Italy. It's because London dealers and auction houses play a big role in trade in historical goods. A lot of stuff entered the UK when there were open borders within the EU. Now its ownership can be challenged. Collectors, get your paperwork ready to show.
I wonder if European concern for “unlawfully removed cultural objects” travelling to Britain will also extended the other way, to French, Dutch and Italian people returning home from "metal detecting holidays" in Britain?
ReplyDeleteIt should do. But then of course it did in the pre-Brexit days, and when everyone was in the EU getting it back would have been smoother than it will be from now on.
ReplyDeleteSo perhaps the answer is just to outlaw metal detecting holidays?
... and by the same token, massive metal detecting rallies, some of which each attract literally hundreds of French detectorists.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I do not expect restrictions on "Free Movement" to apply to foreign looters if they just come, loot, and go home...
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit odd really that detectorists (about 80% leave) don't see their 'Rights' in the same light as fishermen i.e. keep the Johnny Foreigners out of our waters (fields and pastures).
ReplyDeleteThe prospect of a grabfest must blind UK detectorists to their usual xenophobic ways
Quite. Detectorists react very badly to other people trying to get permission on "their" farm but at rallies, the arrival of the French coaches is greeted with great pleasure and sometimes the rally organisers hold "international" tugs of war.
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