Restitution process in Serbia close to completion – Just over 5,000 cases remain to be resolved

More than 13 years since the beginning of the process of returning property to its owners from whom it was taken after World War II, restitution in Serbia is entering its final phase, with more than 70,000 decisions on restitution having been made and around 5,100 cases remaining to be resolved, said Strahinja Sekulic, director of the Restitution Agency.

– Around 5,100 cases remain in the resolution phase, and these are not cases in which a decision has already been made, but cases in which the first decision is still awaited – Sekulic told RTS.

He stated that the restitution process was complex and that in many cases there were multiple decisions for one case.

– There are cases where agricultural land, a building and a company are returned at the same time, so part of it can be returned in kind and the rest through compensation – Sekulic explained.

According to the agency’s estimates, he said, it will take about five years to complete the proceedings in the remaining cases. He added that in addition to the main decisions, a large number of additional decisions and amendments to existing cases should be made during that period and that everything should be electronically edited and submitted to the state as documentation for future records of property-legal relations.

– In each case, there is a history of property relations that often goes back to the 19th century. We want everything to be available to researchers and institutions – Sekulic emphasized.

According to him, the process of in-kind restitution is practically complete and in this phase of property restitution, the emphasis is on monetary compensation, for which the state planned a total amount of EUR 2 billion, and about EUR 280 million has been paid so far.

– Payments are made through advances and bonds and all obligations are fulfilled without delay. Compensation is being paid in five-year installments, and we are already in the fifth round of payments – said Sekulic, adding that the planned dynamics were being respected, without breaking the budget framework.

He explained that, of the remaining property that was being returned in kind, it was mainly agricultural land and smaller plots.

– There are smaller areas that are expected to be returned in the next year to a year and a half. As for buildings and construction land, there are still individual cases that are awaiting a solution due to complex property-legal relations – said Sekulic.

For all those who are still waiting for a final decision, Sekulic advises to prepare complete documentation and be in contact with the agency.

– It is necessary to identify the property, to cooperate with the cadaster, local governments, the Tax Administration and the Public Debt Administration. Good documentation speeds up the process and increases the chances of a positive resolution – Sekulic emphasized.

Agencija za restituciju Republike Srbije

Restitution Agency

Strahinja Sekulić

restitution process in Serbia