Europeans could include the issue of stolen cultural artefacts, especially Greek or Roman antiquities, in negotiations on their future relationship with Britain, according to the draft of the EU negotiating mandate. The mandate, seen by AFP, sets out the EU’s objectives and red lines and now includes a call on the parties to “return unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin”. Early reports, denied by officials on Wednesday, said the mention pertained to the Parthenon marbles, the ancient sculptures commonly known as the Elgin marbles that are on display in the British Museum in London.