This expropriation process in the two northern municipalities began<\/a> in mid-January 2023, where several properties were declared \"immovable property of special public interest - necessary for the implementation of infrastructure projects of public interest.\"<\/p>\n Based on the previous decision<\/a> by the Government, the total planned expropriation area was approximately 104 hectares in Leposaviq and around 33 hectares in Zubin Potok. However, the latest decision states that 96 hectares will be expropriated in Leposaviq, which is eight hectares less than initially planned.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photo: Prime Minister\u2019s Office<\/p>\n The embassies of the QUINT countries, the European Unio\/n Office in Pristina, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission responded<\/a> to the decision. \"The Government violated its own laws and regulations due to procedural and technical flaws during the expropriation process,\" the joint statement said, highlighting concerns raised by the court regarding the preliminary expropriation decision, which, according to them, the Government has yet to address.<\/p>\n \"While some of the claimants\u2019 properties were removed from the final expropriation decision, we regret that the Kosovo government did not wait for all open court procedures to be fully adjudicated before taking this decision. It is essential that the government makes efforts to ensure that expropriation activities comply with the law,\" the QUINT, EU, and OSCE statement concluded.<\/p>\n Government officials provided further clarifications regarding the decision. According to government spokesperson<\/a> P\u00ebrparim Kryeziu, \"The court was clear in stating that most plaintiffs did not have the legitimacy to initiate legal procedures because they could not prove ownership of the land subject to expropriation. Consequently, the Government has acted based on court decisions and existing laws,\" Kryeziu said, adding that the decision aligns with the final judgments of Kosovo's courts, which required the exclusion of certain parcels from the expropriation.<\/p>\n The Government stated that, on the proposal of the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure, the process of expropriating immovable property in several municipalities of the Republic of Kosovo began in accordance with the current Expropriation Law, aiming to construct infrastructure projects. \"This purpose follows the definition of 'legitimate purpose' as defined by the European Convention on Human Rights and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. This was also presented during meetings and discussions with international partners, who requested that the Government of Kosovo respect ongoing legal procedures before making a final expropriation decision,\" the Government of Kosovo stated in its response. According to the Government, the only issue related to the expropriation procedure, as indicated by Strasbourg Jurisprudence, is the amount of compensation.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sbunker.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/VENDIMI-300x205.png\")
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