Have you ever dreamed of an open, global society? A world where we all coexist as citizens of the world? You're not the only one; two and a half millenia ago, a leading political figure set the foundations for the first model of a political environment that welcomed openness, understanding, and cultural interaction. In 5th century BC, Pericles, the political leader who brought ancient Athens to an unprecedented peak, welcomed to the city people of any ethnic or cultural origin. It was the first model of an open world of citizens, where cultural respect and lines of division were set aside, giving way to a society that flourished, pioneered and excelled in all disciplines. Today, this is what cultural institutions have been established for: to protect the global cultural setting and inspire our political thinking to broader frontiers. Reuniting all the Acropolis sculptures in Athens, beyond ownership, will not only put the scattered pieces of an exhibit back together. It will constitute a historic gesture of bringing two nations closer together through a powerful cultural collaboration.

read more about Pericles' vision

Respectful coexistence, borderless Europe  

Following bloody fights, two World Wars, and the bitterness that human selfishness and greed cause, Europe is now united in a community that is based on dialogue and democracy. This is what makes the current union model promising - not persistence, but political understanding; not individualism, but communication. In an effort to promote these principles on all fronts, and in recognition of the fact that the Acropolis sculptures must be reunited in Athens, the European Parliament urges the UK government to return the siezed sculptures to Athens. Furthermore, at a global level, UNESCO also supports the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Athens, in an effort to defend and support the idea of World Heritage.

read the Declarations of the European Parliament for the Return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens