The Implementation Process of Directive 2014/60/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council in Austrian Legislation
The Implementation Process of Directive 2014/60/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council in Austrian Legislation

Summary/Abstract: This article presents the process of implementing Directive 2014/60/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council in Austrian law, focusing on a presentation of the solutions set out in the draft act as well as of amendments made in the course of parliamentary proceedings. In particular, the analysis includes: the work record, aims and objective scope of the act, the notion of “unlawful removal of a cultural object”, the ban on imports, legal definitions, the obligations of care and attention, pursuing claims, court jurisdiction, compensation and other claims, and Austria’s claim to return a cultural object. The article concludes that Austria’s interest in combating illegal imports of cultural objects has grown considerably. It seems that the Act as adopted can significantly reduce the illicit trafficking of cultural objects from other states to the territory of Austria. The new solutions, including longer periods for pursuing claims, will allow authorised persons to recover lost cultural objects in more cases.

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