Measures in place:
European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 created momentum for integrated approach
Regional development fund support for cultural heritage protection and promotion
Framework Limitations:
Primarily focused on preservation and promotion rather than restitution
No specific binding mechanisms for returning cultural objects
Limited to EU territory and does not address colonial heritage
Emphasis on shared European heritage rather than addressing origins of contested objects
Overall Regional Limitations:
Most frameworks focus on recent unlawful removals rather than historical colonial acquisitions
Limited geographic scope (EU/Council of Europe members only)
Primarily preservation-focused rather than restitution-oriented
No comprehensive framework addressing colonial heritage or wartime acquisitions before 1993
Relies heavily on bilateral negotiations and individual country initiatives for broader restitution efforts
