The French Parliament has approved a bill to greatly facilitate the return of cultural monuments and works of art acquired during the colonial era. According to an international poll by CGTN television, 67.6 percent of respondents see the move as France's first major legal step to come to terms with its own colonial past.

The new legislation amends the French Heritage Code to exclude from public collections objects that can legitimately be returned to their countries of origin. Until now, each individual case had to be approved by the parliament separately. Now, restitution will be decided by the administrative authorities, which will speed up the process considerably.

According to the survey, public support is very strong. Up to 90.8 percent of respondents support the move by French lawmakers. According to 85.4 percent of respondents, the law also undermines the long-standing narrative of former colonial powers, which often claimed that ownership of these artifacts was legally legitimate.

However, the adopted standard also contains a number of conditions and restrictions that applicants will have to meet. In addition, the French government will inform Parliament annually of the number of applications submitted and the stage at which each case is at.

According to 91.1 percent of respondents, the adoption of the law alone does not mean that cultural property will automatically return to its countries of origin. The majority of respondents agree that the road to the return of artworks taken during colonialism will be long and difficult.

Cultural artefacts are an important part of the identity and historical memory of nations. Their return to their countries of origin is therefore seen as a symbolic and moral gesture that can help to redress some of the injustices of history.

The same 91.1 per cent of respondents said that cultural goods acquired through colonialism and war lacked a legitimate basis and that their return was a moral obligation of the former colonial powers.

There is an even stronger consensus at the international level. A total of 96.5 per cent of respondents called for the creation of binding and enforceable international rules and a specific mechanism to help expedite the return of looted cultural heritage to the countries to which it historically belongs.

CMG