Greece and US renew cultural heritage memorandum through 2031
Import restrictions covering categories of Greek archaeological and ethnological material have been extended for another five years.
What the renewal covers
Greece and the United States signed a renewal on 7 October of the Memorandum of Understanding that maintains US import restrictions on categories of Greek archaeological and ethnological material. The new term runs for five years, through 2031.
The memorandum has been in force since 2011 and is intended to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property. Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and US Assistant Secretary of State Catherine Dillon signed the renewal during the sixth Greece–US Strategic Dialogue.
Returns reported by the ministry
According to Greece's Culture Ministry, 425 cultural objects were returned to Greece in 2021–2026, including 98 under the memorandum's provisions. A further 15 Greek antiquities were handed over by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the Antiquities Trafficking Unit on 21 September 2026.
These figures are attributed to the ministry's official announcement; they are not an independent AppiSToS inventory.
Planned next steps
The ministry announced plans for a 2027 exhibition at the National Archaeological Museum featuring objects returned from the United States. It also reported discussions with the Getty Museum about an exhibition and activities linked to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Those exhibitions remain at the planning stage: the announcement did not include final dates, a detailed object list or a complete programme.
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