The Federal Council nominates the members of the Commission for Historically Problematic Cultural Heritage
Berna, 28.01.2026 — The Federal Council nominated the presidium and members of the expert Commission for Historically Problematic Cultural Heritage at its meeting of 28 January 2026. The commission will advise the Federal Council and Federal Administration on matters related to historically problematic cultural heritage. It can be invoked in the event of disputes and issue non-binding recommendations on artworks from the Nazi period and cultural goods with a colonial background.
Addressing the issue of historically problematic cultural heritage matters from a historical, legal, ethical and moral perspective and is a major cultural policy goal of the Confederation. The Federal Council has created a committee in the independent Commission for Historically Problematic Cultural Heritage, which can be invoked in the event of disputes and provide non-binding recommendations in one-off instances.
The Federal Council nominated former Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga as President at its meeting on 28 January 2026. She has a wealth of political experience and a very good network in Switzerland and internationally. The other members are: Felix Uhlmann (Vice President), professor of constitutional and administrative law at the University of Zurich, Marc-André Renold, lawyer and expert in art and cultural heritage law, Regula Ludi, professor of history at the University of Fribourg, Noémie Etienne, professor of art history at the University of Vienna, Nikola Doll, department head, German Lost Art Foundation, Esther Tisa, expert in provenance research at Museum Rietberg, Hanno Loewy, director of the Jewish Museum Hohenems, Henri-Michel Yéré, historian and lecturer at the University of Basel, and Fabio Rossinelli, historian and researcher at the universities of Lausanne and Geneva.
The commission members are well versed in matters relating to cultural items stolen during the Nazi period and to cultural items with a colonial background. They are especially proficient in law, history, art history, provenance research, museology and ethnology. The composition of the commission thus ensures an approach to problematic cultural heritage in line with independent, interdisciplinary and international standards.
The appointment of this commission is in fulfilment of motion Pult 21.4403 as approved by parliament. It will formally assume its mandate on 1 March 2026 and define its working instruments as a first step. The commission will also communicate during the year from when it can be invoked. The Federal Council specified the procedures for invoking the commission in the Ordinance on the Commission for Historically Problematic Cultural Heritage.
Infos: Commission for Historically Problematic Cultural Heritage