The illicit trade in cultural property continues to threaten heritage, identity, and stability across regions. From the looting of archaeological sites to the illegal circulation of sacred and historically significant objects, this global challenge demands coordinated and forward-looking responses.
The International Symposium for Cultural Property Protection as an enabler for cooperation in Europe, the Mediterranean and the Gulf region, serves as a platform for strategic dialogue and practical solutions. Bringing together experts in law, criminology, technology, heritage protection, and geopolitics, the event encourages cross-sector collaboration between policymakers, enforcement authorities, researchers, and civil society.
Hosted in Nicosia and organised by the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence, the symposium positions Cyprus as a strategic regional hub at the crossroads of Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf. The Symposium is organized under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026.