Court of Arbitration for Nazi-looted Cultural Property launched

The newly established Court of Arbitration for Nazi-looted Cultural Property began its work today, 1 December 2025. In future, it will decide on disputed cases concerning the restitution of cultural property that was taken from individuals as a result of persecution under the National Socialist regime, in particular from Jewish ownership.

The establishment of the new Court of Arbitration is a key step forward in the restitution of cultural property seized as a result of Nazi persecution. The possibility of submitting unilateral requests for arbitration now gives victims of Nazi cultural property theft or their legal successors easier access to arbitration proceedings, especially in cases involving cultural property in public ownership. The arbitration panels will issue binding arbitration awards based on an assessment framework that includes a reduced burden of proof and presumptive rules. More than 80 years after the end of the war, this provides a more appropriate mechanism for addressing cases that remain unresolved to this day.

A total of 36 arbitrators are available for proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Nazi-looted Cultural Property, whose Executive Committee consists of Dr. Elisabeth Steiner, former judge at the European Court of Human Rights, and Peter Müller, former State Premier and former judge of the Federal Constitutional Court. The Service Desk in Berlin supports the proceedings in a manner comparable to a secretariat, in accordance with its rules of procedure.

With the introduction of the Court of Arbitration, a key project is being implemented as set out in the coalition agreement to improve the restitution of cultural property seized as a result of Nazi persecution . The coalition agreement also provides for the creation of a restitution law and for the intensification of provenance research. The new arbitration body replaces the former Advisory Commission on the return of cultural property seized as a result of Nazi persecution, especially Jewish property.

With the aim of improving the situation regarding the restitution of Nazi-looted property in Germany, the federal government, the Länder and the national associations of local authorities agreed in 2024 on a reform of the Advisory Commission and its further development into an arbitration body. The Central Council of Jews in Germany and the Claims Conference were involved in the reform process.

To the full press release: https://kulturstaatsminister.de/presse/schiedsgerichtsbarkeit

For further information on the Court of Arbitration for Nazi-looted Cultural Property, see: www.schiedsgerichtsbarkeit-ns-raubgut.de

If you have any questions regarding arbitration proceedings, please contact the Service Desk at schiedsstelle@schiedsgerichtsbarkeit-ns-raubgut.de.

The German Lost Art Foundation acts as the legal entity responsible for the Service Desk in administrative terms; however, the substantive work of the Court of Arbitration is carried out independently.