15 years of implementation of the Act on property left beyond the Bug River: An attempt to summarize

Abstract

The Act on the Exercise of the Right to Compensation for Property Left Beyond the Current Borders of the Republic of Poland, adopted on 8 July 2005, was intended to complete the process of compensation for real properties left in the former eastern voivodeships of the interwar Republic of Poland. The implementation of the Act lasts for 15 years now and will probably not end before the year 2030. The article addresses the most important factors that have contributed to the prolongation of the compensation payment process, and thus the final settlement of the obligations resting upon Poland towards people who lived on the former Polish territories beyond the Bug River, known in the Polish language as “Zabużanie”. The analysis is based primarily on the information obtained from voivodes (who are the bodies of primary jurisdiction in the proceedings for confirmation of the right to compensation), the Ministry of the State Treasury and the Ministry of the Interior and Administration. An analysis of statement of reasons for the judgements has proven to be essential as well.

Keywords

• the Act on property left beyond the Bug River
• people who lived on the former Polish territories beyond the Bug river
• property left beyond the Bug River
• compensation
• right to reconciliation of the value of property