Burnham's remark on EU raises Greek hopes for Parthenon sculptures
06.10.2026, DPA
Remarks by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on closer ties between the United Kingdom and the European Union could lead to the return to Greece of the Parthenon sculptures known as the Elgin Marbles, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday.
Athens and London have for decades been in dispute over the sculptures currently held by the British Museum in London.
"Yes, the Parthenon sculptures will also be part of this discussion," Mitsotakis told a conference in Athens. He said the issue was important not only for Greece but for Europe as well.
The dispute over ownership of the sculptures has lasted for decades. The Parthenon is one of the most famous surviving architectural monuments of ancient Greece. In the early 19th century, British diplomat Lord Elgin had the best-preserved marble panels and sculptures from the Parthenon frieze removed and taken to London.
He sold them to the British Museum in 1816. Greece is demanding their permanent return for reunification with the rest of the temple.
At the end of September, Burnham said that Brexit had done Britain more harm than good and left various options open for the country's future relationship with the EU, including a possible return to the bloc.
When referring to the sculptures, Mitsotakis prefers the term "reunification" rather than "return," arguing that they belong to a single monument. Greece aims to house the sculptures in the Acropolis Museum in Athens.
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