Parliament "may discuss restitution" before summer break

A bill on property restitution - one of the conditions for Serbia to become EU candidate - could be discussed at the parliament before the summer break. This is according to a Tanjug report, which says officials the news agency spoke to believe that property should be returned through natural restitution or substitution, and when this is not possible by means of compensation. Parliament "may discuss restitution" before summer break The property in question was nationalized by the communist Yugoslav regime after the end of the Second World War. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic announced on Wednesday that the law, which would resolve the issue of returning the property confiscated after the Second World War, should be submitted to the parliament for adoption before the summer break, along with the bill on public property, adding that the restitution will probably be carried out through a combination of natural and financial compensation. He warned that Serbia's fiscal capacities are limited and that a restitution should be tailored to the country's modest financial capabilities. The Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), which advocates the return of the confiscated property and correction of a historic injustice, believes that property must be returned through natural restitution, and where it is not possible by substitution, and if these two options prove to be unfeasible, the way out should be sought in compensation. "After the decision of the Constitutional Court, which confirms the constitutionality of the law which enables the natural restitution of property to religious communities, there is no doubt about the way in which property should be returned to the citizens, as Europe will not allow any discrimination," SPO deputy leader Aleksandar Jugovic stated. Property rights expert and former minister of international economic relations Milan Parivodic believes that 'broad' natural restitution should be carried out wherever possible, while compensation is the last option to be considered. Serbian parliament speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic told Tanjug earlier that she is expecting for the bill on restitution to enter parliamentary procedure, and that MPs will discuss in detail the essential laws which, according to the European Commission's criteria, can demonstrate the fact that Serbia is ready for EU candidacy.

Parliament "may discuss restitution" before summer break

The property in question was nationalized by the communist Yugoslav regime after the end of the Second World War.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić announced on Wednesday that the law, which would resolve the issue of returning the property confiscated after the Second World War, should be submitted to the parliament for adoption before the summer break, along with the bill on public property, adding that the restitution will probably be carried out through a combination of natural and financial compensation.

He warned that Serbia's fiscal capacities are limited and that a restitution should be tailored to the country's modest financial capabilities.

The Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), which advocates the return of the confiscated property and correction of a historic injustice, believes that property must be returned through natural restitution, and where it is not possible by substitution, and if these two options prove to be unfeasible, the way out should be sought in compensation.

"After the decision of the Constitutional Court, which confirms the constitutionality of the law which enables the natural restitution of property to religious communities, there is no doubt about the way in which property should be returned to the citizens, as Europe will not allow any discrimination," SPO deputy leader Aleksandar Jugović stated.

Property rights expert and former minister of international economic relations Milan Parivodic believes that 'broad' natural restitution should be carried out wherever possible, while compensation is the last option to be considered.

Serbian parliament speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović told Tanjug earlier that she is expecting for the bill on restitution to enter parliamentary procedure, and that MPs will discuss in detail the essential laws which, according to the European Commission's criteria, can demonstrate the fact that Serbia is ready for EU candidacy.