Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002043/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Nikos Pappas (The Left)
The recent drone show organised by a sports goods company, using the Acropolis as a backdrop without prior authorisation from the Greek authorities, highlighted serious legislative and institutional gaps in relation with the indirect commercial use of cultural heritage sites. The Acropolis, a symbol of European identity and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was indirectly used for promotional purposes, provoking political backlash and legal action in response. There have been similar cases in other Member States (involving the statue of David and the Vitruvian Man in Italy, and the image of the Eiffel Tower in France), highlighting the need for European regulation.
Regulation (EU) 2021/818 establishing the Creative Europe programme safeguards cultural heritage by preventing its uncontrolled commercialisation. However, it does not establish a unified legal framework for the commercial use of cultural images or symbols.
Can the Commission therefore answer the following:
- 1.How does it view these incidents in the light of the need to maintain the protection of the EU’s cultural monuments, especially when commercial operators are involved?
- 2.Will it propose or support the adoption of a common European legal framework to regulate the depiction, reproduction or commercial use of images of cultural monuments, particularly in cases of indirect exploitation?
- 3.How can it help to ensure that European cultural principles and values as set out in European law are not compromised in such cases?
Submitted: 21.5.2025