Poland: 'No ethnic discrimination on property restitution'

Foreign Ministry. Photo: msz.gov.pl

In response to a letter signed by 50 members of the UK's upper and lower houses of parliament, the ministry argued that private property seized by the German Nazis or the post-war Polish Communist regime “has been systematically returned to its owners since 1989.

“Polish legislation does not make a difference between applicants based on their ethnicity or religion – everyone can use the same procedures and legal instruments,” the statement affirmed.

A debate on restitution was held in the UK's House of Lords on 27 February, following a letter that claimed that “Poland stands out in its failure to fulfil - even to recognise – its responsibility to victims.

“Poland is the only member state of the European Union and the only major country in the former Soviet bloc without a law to restore property taken by the Nazis or nationalized by Communist governments from Jews and non-Jews alike,” the signatories had argued.

In April 2011, President Komorowski said that the lack of a clear law on restitution was “a disgrace for Poland.”

However, the foreign ministry has stressed that restitution and compensation “are regulated in Poland by the provisions of the Civil Code, the Code of Civil Procedure and other laws,” and thus individual cases can be pursued in the law courts.

The ministry also pointed out that as a result of an agreement signed with the Britain in 1954, Poland paid almost 5.5 million pounds to the British government, “providing for the settlement of financial claims by British citizens and companies registered in the UK against Poland.”

The statement also noted that from 1991 to 2012, over 65.7 million zloty (about 12.9 million pounds) had been paid to “victims of German repressions in ghettos and camps (and to inheriting widows and widowers).” (nh)

Source: PAP, msz.gov.pl