European Shoah Legacy Institute welcomes passage of Serbian legislation that will address heirless and unclaimed Jewish property expropriated during the Holocaust.
Serbia now becomes one of the first countries in Eastern European or the former Soviet Union to pass a law specifically restituting heirless Jewish Holocaust-era property.
This is the first legislation on heirless property passed since Serbia and 46 other countries endorsed the 2009 Terezin Declaration on Holocaust Era Assets and Related Issues, which called for the restitution of heirless Jewish property.
The legislation passed with support across the political spectrum in the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.
This law culminates a two-year campaign, which had been initiated by WJRO and the Federation of Jewish Communities in Serbia (SAVEZ), was supported by the European Shoah Legacy Institute in cooperation with Special Envoys for Holocaust Issues from Czech Republic, Germany, Israel, Republic of Macedonia, United States and United Kingdom who encouraged Serbian government to pass the legislation.
Some specific elements of the new law include €950,000 per year for 25 years in compensation to SAVEZ to support the revitalization of the Serbian Jewish communities, and in rem restitution (return of a property) to the Serbian Jewish communities of heirless and unclaimed movable and immovable property. Holocaust survivors and their heirs will have the opportunity to obtain any of their property that will be returned to the Serbian Jewish communities.
In addition, distribution of revenues from compensation and restitution will support Holocaust survivors; social welfare of Jews living in Serbia; Holocaust research, commemoration and education; and sustaining Jewish communities and religious and cultural activities. At least 20 percent of those revenues in the first decade will be directed to assist Serbian Holocaust survivors now living in Serbia or abroad.
The law also establishes a Supervisory Board, with representation from WJRO, SAVEZ and the Serbian government, to supervise and monitor the management of funds.
ESLI expresses its appreciation to Prime Minister Vučić and his government, including the Agency for Restitution, Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance and sincerely hopes that other countries which endorsed Terezin Declaration will follow Serbian’s example.
