Second meeting of the Commission for Historically Problematic Cultural Heritage – 12 June 2026

The Commission for Historically Problematic Cultural Heritage is responsible, among other things, for advising the Federal Council and Federal Administration on how to deal with historically problematic cultural goods owned by the Confederation. In order to fulfil this mandate, the commission needs specific and complete knowledge of the Federal Administration’s operations in order to give recommendations when needed. The commission invited the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) for a consultation at its second meeting. This allowed the commission to gain an initial overview. The exchange with the FOC is to be continued. The commission will acquire further information and deepen the discussion.

Moreover, the commission moved forward with its preparations for handling one-off cases. An initial draft of the corresponding procedural regulations, prepared by a working group, was discussed in plenum and considered good in principle. The open points will be clarified at a future meeting.

The commission also addressed other working areas. It has the mandate to advise the Confederation on questions pertaining to historically problematic cultural heritage. Cultural heritage refers to the entirety of culturally significant testimonies, independently of specific works and claims. The advisory mandate thus comprises fundamental and overarching questions about how to deal with historically problematic cultural goods. Initial ideas were discussed, which the commission will now define internally in more detail and specific tasks will then be undertaken.

Finally the commission discussed the various enquiries it had received in recent weeks regarding a painting from the Cézanne exhibition at Fondation Beyeler. The commission is aware of its legal mandate and the associated responsibility. At the same time, it is bound by its statutory parameters. When requested by the relevant parties, the commission will readily offer its support and expertise with mediation and the search for just and fair solutions.