Brexit: losing the Marbles

[AtW]

Fears raised that EU will back Greece over return of Elgin Marbles in Brexit trade talks

The European Union added an “Elgin Marbles clause” into its demands for a post-Brexit trade deal with Britain on Tuesday, which raised fears it will bolster Greek calls for the repatriation of the works to Athens.

The demand was revealed in Brussels on Tuesday after inter-governmental talks by EU countries over the bloc’s mandate for upcoming trade negotiations with Britain in March.

The latest draft, a copy of which was obtained by The Telegraph, reads, “The Parties should, consistently with Union rules, address issues relating to the return or restitution of unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin".

Fears raised that EU will back Greece over return of Elgin Marbles in Brexit trade talks

[Mordac]

We'll send them back by Parcelforce, so there's no chance of them ending up in Athens...

[Zigenare]

We'll send them back by Parcelforce, so there's no chance of them ending up in Athens...

Send 'em back as a pile of sand!

[Zigenare]

Fears raised that EU will back Greece over return of Elgin Marbles in Brexit trade talks

The European Union added an “Elgin Marbles clause” into its demands for a post-Brexit trade deal with Britain on Tuesday, which raised fears it will bolster Greek calls for the repatriation of the works to Athens.

The demand was revealed in Brussels on Tuesday after inter-governmental talks by EU countries over the bloc’s mandate for upcoming trade negotiations with Britain in March.

The latest draft, a copy of which was obtained by The Telegraph, reads, “The Parties should, consistently with Union rules, address issues relating to the return or restitution of unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin".

Fears raised that EU will back Greece over return of Elgin Marbles in Brexit trade talks

Next they'll be after an 'effin' shrubbery!

[Platypus]

Why are there "fears" ?

Who cares? Just give them back.

[wattaj]

Who cares? Just give them back.

What? It's hardly "taking back control" if we've to hand back all the goodies that we've looted from around the World.

[original PM]

Interesting read...

Elgin Marbles - Wikipedia

Main challenge against it is

"A range of different arguments have been presented by scholars,[53] British political leaders and British Museum spokespersons over the years in defence of retention of the Elgin Marbles by the British Museum. The main points include:

the assertion that fulfilling all restitution claims would empty most of the world's great museums – this has also caused concerns among other European and American museums, with one potential target being the famous bust of Nefertiti in Berlin's Neues Museum; in addition, portions of Parthenon marbles are kept by many other European museums.[30] Advocates of the British Museum's position also point out that the Marbles in Britain receive about 6 million visitors per year as opposed to 1.5 million visitors to the Acropolis Museum. The removal of the Marbles to Greece would therefore, they argue, significantly reduce the number of people who have the opportunity to visit the Marbles.[100] The English Romantic poet John Keats, and the French sculptor Auguste Rodin, are notable examples of visitors to the Elgin Marbles after their removal to England who subsequently produced famous work inspired by them.[101][102]"

[wattaj]

Interesting read...

Elgin Marbles - Wikipedia

Main challenge against it is

"A range of different arguments have been presented by scholars,[53] British political leaders and British Museum spokespersons over the years in defence of retention of the Elgin Marbles by the British Museum. The main points include:

the assertion that fulfilling all restitution claims would empty most of the world's great museums – this has also caused concerns among other European and American museums, with one potential target being the famous bust of Nefertiti in Berlin's Neues Museum; in addition, portions of Parthenon marbles are kept by many other European museums.[30] Advocates of the British Museum's position also point out that the Marbles in Britain receive about 6 million visitors per year as opposed to 1.5 million visitors to the Acropolis Museum. The removal of the Marbles to Greece would therefore, they argue, significantly reduce the number of people who have the opportunity to visit the Marbles.[100] The English Romantic poet John Keats, and the French sculptor Auguste Rodin, are notable examples of visitors to the Elgin Marbles after their removal to England who subsequently produced famous work inspired by them.[101][102]"

Wasn't there also an argument around the level of pollution in Greece that would have a detrimental impact on the marbles?

I might be misremembering that.

[ladymuck]

If Greece can afford to pick them up and transport them, then they can have them! As long as they also pick up all the other bits scattered about the globe. We removed them at our expense so they can collect them at theirs!

[original PM]

If Greece can afford to pick them up and transport them, then they can have them! As long as they also pick up all the other bits scattered about the globe. We removed them at our expense so they can collect them at theirs!

Indeed.

Seems that the EU are selectively saying the UK need to give something back purely as part of a trade deal and nothing really to do with the fact that Greece want their marbles back...