Repayment of the obligations of the Strasbourg bill for the former owners at "tortoise pace", the obligation 17.9 million euros

2024-10-30 10:00:32Biznes SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Repayment of the obligations of the Strasbourg bill for the former owners at

The progress of the repayment of the total invoice of Strasbourg continues to remain slow, even though the budget is at risk of being added to the costs from the late interest from non-payment on time.

The value of the compensation bill for the decisions of the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg until September 2024 has reached 17.9 million euros. The total obligation was created mainly for decisions on the return and compensation of properties to former owners, according to the data of the Ministry of Finance and Economy made public with the draft budget of 2025.

Until September 2023, the actual and contingent obligation from the decisions of Strasbourg was in the amount of 21.7 million euros, according to the data published in the draft budget 2024. Within the year, it turns out that 18% of the compensation bill has been repaid.

The settlement of obligations has been implemented for 7 cases, such as: "Sharra and others against Albania" in the amount of 3.8 million euros, "Muçaj against Albania" in the amount of 3,600 euros, etc.

While 6 new cases have been added, such as "Zela v. Albania" with a factual obligation of 60 thousand euros to be settled, "Iliria SRL v. Albania" with a repayment obligation of 10,800 euros, "Bibaj v. Albania" of 16,700 euros etc.

Until September 2024, the number of Strasbourg decisions awaiting the settlement of obligations is 11 cases. Even this year, the list of compensation decisions is headed by the case "Sharxhi v. Albania" with a financial liability of 13.3 million euros, followed by the case "Rista and others against Albania" with a liability of 4.4 million euros.

The actual obligation until September 2024 (it is the obligation cited in the final decision, for which the legal procedures within the Albanian state and contingent have not been finalized) is in the amount of 17,955,050 euros. The contingent liability (it is the liability cited in a court decision for which the legal procedures have not been completed) is in the amount of 8,600 euros.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy underlines in the relation of the draft budget that it has continuously respected all the decisions approved by the ECtHR, considering the fact that when the payments are not made within three months from the date when the relevant decision takes final form, the Albanian state is charged with the payment of a late interest for each day of delay.

However, in order to guarantee the timely settlement of these decisions, the MFE emphasizes that it has consistently recommended the use of all possible institutional and procedural channels, within the spaces provided by the legal framework in force, suggesting, according to the possibilities of the state budget, scheduling with installments of the financial obligation, in negotiation with the beneficiaries. Even for the year 2024, the liquidation of obligations of this type is covered by the Reserve Fund of the state budget.


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