Egypt, Cyprus Lead Regional Effort to Combat Cultural Heritage Trafficking

Egypt and Cyprus have taken the lead in tackling the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage, co-hosting a high-level conference under the Euromed Justice Project, with support from Eurojust, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation.

According to a statement from the Cyprus Police, the conference aimed to shed light on the persistent threat of cultural heritage trafficking and to strengthen international judicial collaboration to counter it.

The event brought together legal and cultural heritage experts from across the Mediterranean and Europe, including representatives from Greece, Algeria, Belgium, France, Italy, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. International bodies such as UNESCO, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Council of Europe were also present.

Participants shared best practices and examined the current international legal framework addressing cultural property crimes. A key feature of the conference was a presentation by Eurojust, outlining its tools and capabilities to enhance cross-border judicial cooperation.

Cyprus was represented by officials from the Police, the Legal Service, the Department of Antiquities, and the Department of Customs, underscoring the country’s active role in preserving cultural heritage.