French deputies adopt law on restitution of looted cultural property, Baba Merzoug cannon excluded

This legislation, fulfilling a promise by President Emmanuel Macron, awaits final validation after parliamentary review. While aiming to accelerate the return of artworks to their countries of origin, the bill has been criticized for its rigid scope, excluding military trophies and loot outside the specified timeframe. This notably impacts emblematic cases like the Baba Merzoug cannon, captured in Algiers and currently in Brest, and other items claimed by Algeria, including personal effects of Emir Abdelkader.

An amendment, supported by the right and far-right, mandates that beneficiary states adhere to international conservation standards and ensure public access to restituted items, a condition the Minister of Culture argued could weaken the political impact of the text. The law seeks to streamline restitution procedures by replacing systematic parliamentary approval with a decree-based process, guided by strict criteria and scientific and parliamentary commissions. Despite efforts by left-wing deputies to broaden the law's scope, the exclusion of military trophies and the 1815-1972 timeframe remain, preventing the return of items like the Baba Merzoug cannon and the Codex Borbonicus.

The state will be required to publish an annual inventory of works potentially acquired unlawfully to anticipate future restitution requests. Debates