Share

February 19, 2020 The latest draft of the Brexit agreement would contain a clause relating to the return of "cultural objects illegally removed in their countries of origin". The British Telegraph reports it, rekindling fears about the fate of the precious Greek marbles preserved in the British Museum, as well as various Italian masterpieces preserved in the United Kingdom.

The clause was requested by the European Union in the context of the talks in Brussels aimed at preparing the March negotiations. According to an anonymous source cited by the newspaper, Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Italy in particular would have asked to be included, but the rule appeared to refer in particular to the precious collection of statues, inscriptions and friezes from the Parthenon and other Hellenic sites, collection by Lord Elgin between 1801 and 1805.

The United Kingdom has always refused to return the Parthenon friezes to Greece at the time when the great museum at the foot of the Acropolis was opened in Athens. The large carved plaques were taken in the early 19th century by decision of the British ambassador Lord Elgin. According to London, the Ottoman rulers had given permission to transfer them to London, but for Greece it is a concession made by an occupant of the Hellenic territory to be considered non-legal.

For Italy, the issue of cultural assets at risk of theft or stolen is a very sensitive issue and it is known that the London art market is one of the most important international markets.

Brexit, no cartà Italian identity with new immigration system
Meanwhile, another case opens: post-Brexit Britain will close its doors to unskilled workers and non-English speakers. These are the new lines on immigration presented by Boris Johnson's government, based on a points system similar to the Australian one. Among the measures listed on the Guardian website, it is also specified that identity cards from countries such as France and Italy will no longer be accepted at the border. According to the newspaper, the reason is to prevent non-EU workers from deceiving the system with falsified identity cards.