In 2019, the five European restitution committees on Nazi-looted art met for the first time as a network. This meeting marked the beginning of an enriching cycle of cooperation for the members of the committees themselves, as well as for the claimants or heirs whose applications for compensation they handle. This dynamic has continued over the years, with new meetings taking place in London, Berlin and Amsterdam.
Five years later, on 1 October 2024, the network met again in Paris. This convivial day gave us the opportunity to look back on the network's five years of existence, but also to talk about our prospects for the future. The expansion of the network, the deepening of our relations, workshops to compare our methods of handling cases and much more are still to come.
Over the past five years, the network has established itself as a source of hope and progress for claimants, heirs, and provenance researchers. By promoting unprecedented transparency, we have ensured that families navigating the intricate paths of restitution have access to clearer, more accessible processes. The Network’s work has allowed these voices to be heard and their stories to be acknowledged, affirming our commitment to remembrance.
The Network has also become a model of cross-border cooperation. Through the seamless exchange of information between European Committees, we have been able to address cases that cross borders, providing a more effective response to the inherently international nature of spoliation. This cooperation has strengthened the bonds between Member States and reinforced the importance of working together to solve challenges.
