Greece and Italy Form Joint Task Force to Protect Cultural Heritage

Greece and Italy have joined forces to strengthen the protection of cultural heritage by establishing a joint working group of Greek and Italian scientists to document, identify, and conserve significant ceramic assemblages originating from illegal excavations in both countries.

According to the Greek Ministry of Culture, the initiative stems from bilateral talks between Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and her Italian counterpart, Alessandro Giuli, held in Athens in June 2025. The collaboration focuses primarily on ceramic works from Attic workshops that were illicitly excavated and later recovered.

A major milestone in the cooperation was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the joint management of antiquities previously held by the liquidators of Robin Symes Ltd. The agreement was signed by Olympia Vikatou, Director General of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage at Greece’s Ministry of Culture, and Luigi La Rocca, Head of the Cultural Heritage Protection Department at Italy’s Ministry of Culture.

Work began in September 2025 at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki and has continued systematically since then. The ministry said the project has progressed in a spirit of mutual trust and close cooperation, with early results already confirming the effectiveness of the joint effort and further strengthening cultural relations between Greece and Italy.

Minister Mendoni said the partnership demonstrates how shared historical responsibility can translate into meaningful and effective action. She stressed that the documentation, conservation, and restoration of antiquities from illegal excavations represent not only a high-level scientific undertaking but also an act of moral and institutional responsibility. Mendoni added that the cooperation sends a clear message against illicit trafficking and in support of international collaboration under the 1970 UNESCO Convention.

Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli described the fight against the illegal trafficking of cultural goods as a shared priority for both governments. He said the recovery of stolen works of art stands as a success for both ministries and reaffirmed their commitment to transparent cooperation and the exchange of expertise, from restoration and training to the protection and management of archaeological sites.

Giuli also highlighted a shared goal to promote a more sustainable approach to cultural tourism, including the promotion of lesser-known archaeological sites and the development of alternative cultural routes alongside major destinations.

The Greek-Italian collaboration focuses on restoring fragmented vessels, with the ultimate aim of returning an equal number of fully restored archaeological artefacts to each country. The work aligns fully with the 1970 UNESCO Convention and takes place under the scientific coordination of archaeologists and conservators from the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, Italy’s Ministry of Culture, and the University of Basilicata. The Thessaloniki museum plays a central role in supporting the protection of Greece’s cultural heritage through this initiative.

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Alessandro Giuli, Antiquities Trafficking, Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, cultural diplomacy, cultural heritage, Greece Italy relations, Greece news, Greek City Times, Greek news, Lina Mendoni, UNESCO 1970 Convention