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Regulation

Recommendations to States

Transposition, good practices and monitoring: how Member States can fully apply the conventions and directives.

Updated : October 28, 2026· 3 min read

Pages in this section

The Dance at the Court of Herod, Israhel van Meckenem (c. 1500)Transposing the directivesGuide for States: steps, model law, fit with existing law, supervisory authority and timetable.› Seal Color Box (1662–1722)States' good practicesSolutions that have proved their worth in Member States: digital inventories, one-stop desks, training, cooperation.› Seal of Doge Michele Steno (reverse) (1400–1409)Monitoring of implementationOIMAP's annual dashboard: indicators, results by State, ranking of progress and follow-up.›

Helping States to do well

Seal Color Box (1662–1722)
Seal Color Box (1662–1722)

Texts are worth only as much as their application. The recommendations to States bring together the advice that the Secretariat gives its members for transposing the directives, adopting good practices and monitoring their progress.

They are based on the experience of the twenty-seven States that have received a support mission since 2020 and on contributions from national focal points.

The section has three pages: transposition, good practices and monitoring.

  • Recommendations
  • States
  • Support

Recommendations to States in figures

27States that have received a support mission
61States that have transposed the directives
12Recommendations in force
1Monitoring reports per year

Source: OIMAP Legal Affairs Department.

The three pages of the section

Portrait of John VIII Palaoelogus, Emperor of Constantinople, 1424-1428 (reverse), Pisanello (c. 1438–1439)RightTransposition

How to integrate the texts into national law.

›Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748)PracticeGood practices

What works in Member States.

›Plaque (1500s–1600s)MonitoringMonitoring

Measuring and comparing progress.

›

Breakdown

Transposition35%
Good practices40%
Monitoring25%

Breakdown of the twelve recommendations.

Coronation of the Virgin, Christoffel Jegher (1632–36)
Coronation of the Virgin, Christoffel Jegher (1632–36)
Dune Scene with Peasant Figures, Willem van de Velde (mid-1650s)
Dune Scene with Peasant Figures, Willem van de Velde (mid-1650s)
Mercury (Budha), from a Mandi Astrology Series, Sanju (c. 1810)
Mercury (Budha), from a Mandi Astrology Series, Sanju (c. 1810)

An approach based on support

The recommendations are not binding: they serve as a guide. OIMAP prefers support to sanction. A State in difficulty may request a support mission: lawyers, customs experts, inventory specialists, trainers. Missions last from two weeks to six months.

Each mission results in a costed action plan, with deadlines and follow-up. The State remains in control of its decisions; OIMAP makes its expertise available.

Recommendations based on experience

The twelve current recommendations cover the drafting of transposition laws, the designation of a supervisory authority, the training of officials, the inventory of public collections, cooperation between services and public awareness.

They are revised every two years, after consultation with focal points. States may also propose new recommendations, which are examined by the Assembly.

A dialogue between peers

One of the strengths of the system is the dialogue between States. Focal points meet twice a year, share their experiences and draw inspiration from their neighbours' solutions. States that have made good progress become sponsors of those that are starting.

This sponsorship mechanism, launched in 2023, has halved the average time taken to transpose a directive.

The three axes

Three axes
AxisPurposeDeliverable
TranspositionIntegrate the directives into national lawLaw, regulation, circular
Good practicesImprove implementationGuides, training, inventories
MonitoringMeasure progressAnnual report, dashboard

Landmarks

  1. First missions

    Five States supported.

  2. Twelve recommendations

    First collection.

  3. 27 missions

    Three monitoring reports.

  4. Revision

    Consultation of States.

Support on request

Chemin de fer de Toulouse à Bayonne. Pont de l'Aran (en trois arches de 17m d'ouverture chacune). Situation des travaux au 21 juillet 1861, Édouard Baldus (1861)
Chemin de fer de Toulouse à Bayonne. Pont de l'Aran (en trois arches de 17m d'ouverture chacune). Situation des travaux au 21 juillet 1861, Édouard Baldus (1861)
The Triumph of Mordecai, Lucas van Leyden (1515)
The Triumph of Mordecai, Lucas van Leyden (1515)
Arrival of the "Southern Barbarians" (c. 1600)
Arrival of the "Southern Barbarians" (c. 1600)

Recommendation or obligation

Carnet (1863–1865)

Recommendation

Advice from the Secretariat
  • Non-binding
  • Adaptable
  • Based on experience

To progress.

Seven Jeweled Mountain (late 1800s)

Obligation

Directive or convention
  • Binding on the State
  • Monitored and evaluated
  • May be sanctioned

To comply.

Benefiting from a support mission

  1. Ask

    Send the request to the Secretariat.

  2. Diagnose

    Assess the situation.

  3. Planning

    Draw up the action plan.

  4. Implement

    Carry out the actions.

  5. Follow

    Evaluate the results.

Current priorities

A national focal point

Sweet Melancholy, Joseph-Marie Vien (1756)
« The Secretariat's support saved us two years. We had the skills; what we lacked was the method. »
Fatima Zahra El Idrissi, focal point of a Member State

Vocabulary of the recommendations

Focal point
OIMAP's correspondent in a Member State.
Support mission
Technical help given to a State.
Action plan
Timetable of corrective actions.
Dashboard
Summary of monitoring indicators.

Frequently asked questions

Are the recommendations public?

Yes, in the legal library.

Can a State be sanctioned?

For breach of the directives, a public recommendation by the Assembly is possible.

Who finances the missions?

OIMAP, with voluntary contributions.

Whom should I contact?

Useful documents

Contacts

Small Mosque in the Kaiserbagh, Felice A. Beato (1858)
Small Mosque in the Kaiserbagh, Felice A. Beato (1858)
Legal Affairs DepartmentParis — Headquarters+33 1 00 00 02 00juridique@oimap.exampleMonday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm

Read about transposition

Letter Box, Ogata Kōrin (1700s)

How to transpose the texts.

Transposition
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