EU AND THE PROBLEM OF CULTURAL GOODS TRAFFICKING

Abstract

The article addresses the EU legal and practical actions in the new field of combating organized crime-trafficking in cultural goods. The author argues that this area of crime has a long history, but today the scale of criminal networks’ activities has reached unprecedented level, which makes it possible to consider crimes in the field of art as an «emerging» type of crime. Turning to history, the author gives examples of high-profile cases uncovered by law enforcement agencies of European countries since the 1960s, and draws attention to the changing methods of criminal activity with the use of social networks and new digital technologies. The article analyzes international and European legislation against trafficking in cultural goods, as well as practical cooperation of law enforcement agencies to detect and prosecute smugglers and fraudsters operating in art markets. In conclusion, the author notes the low efficiency of both the legal system and international cooperation, citing as one of the reasons the insufficient concern of politicians about the scale of the new threat.

Keywords

• cultural heritage
• antiquities
• archaeological artifacts
• tombaroli
• financing of terrorism
• action plan against trafficking of cultural goods