Italy Advances Legislation on Restitution of Nazi-Looted Art
Italy’s parliament is advancing legislation to establish a formal process for restituting art and cultural property looted by the Nazis under Italian Fascist racial laws, according to reporting cited by the Jewish News Syndicate. The World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO) called the bill a major step, with its president Gideon Taylor saying it offers a “historic opportunity” for justice, though key operational and legal details remain unresolved. The article notes that Nazis looted about 20% of Europe’s art and that more than 100,000 items remain unreturned. A 2024 WJRO/Claims Conference study found only seven countries had made “major progress” since the 1998 Washington Conference Principles, while Italy had made only “some progress” over the past 25 years; UCEI president Livia Ottolenghi addressed the bill at a June 24 parliamentary meeting.
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This story was covered in Restitution Reckonings and Museums Under Pressure