Creation of land fund for the purpose of land management in the Republic of Serbia

Abstract

This paper presents the activities carried out by the authorities of the Republic of Serbia in order to properly manage agricultural land. It is well known that land, as a scarce resource in any country, must be managed in a proper way. The government is in charge of land management, land legislation and land policies that have a major influence on land development. The Republic of Serbia is currently in transition from fully state owned land to private ownership, but this path is fraught with numerous obstacles. While the experiences of other countries may help avoid some common pitfalls, each country faces a unique set of challenges not found elsewhere. To be able to properly choose the right direction of land management, it is essential to consider multiple potential scenarios of good land stewardship. A land fund is an example of a good international practice that countries like Serbia should follow, implement and adapt in a way which reflects its national heritage and current circumstances. The real estate market is turbulent and changes over time, but it must be and remain transparent, open and without restrictions in order to assure the wellbeing of future generations and development of the country.

Keywords:

• Land fund
• Agricultural land
• Land policy
• Real estate market
• Restitution

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the staff of the Republic Geodetic Authority, without whose help this paper could not be written. They gave us valuable information from their data bases that helped us to complete our research.

This paper was realised as a part of the project ‘Studying climate change and its influence on the environment: impacts, adaptation and mitigation’ (43007) financed by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia within the framework of integrated and interdisciplinary research for the period 2011–2014.

Notes

* According to the Strategy of Agriculture and Rural Development (2014–2024) (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia no. 85/14).

† According to the Law on Agricultural Land (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia no. 62/2006, 65/2008, 41/2009).

‡ Pursuant to the Law on Agricultural Land (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia no. 62/2006, 65/2008 and 41/2009): Agricultural Base for the Republic of Serbia is a planning document, used to regulate the bases for protection, consolidation and use of agricultural land.

§ Agency for Restitution. n. d. Glossary of Nationalization and Denationalization, available at: <http://www.restitucija.gov.rs/doc/pojmovnik/Pojmovnik%20Glosar_1.pdf >

** Agency for Restitution. n. d. Directorate for Restitution, available at: <http://www.restitucija.gov.rs/direkcija-za-restituciju.php>

†† Agency for Restitution. n. d. Summary Evidence of Submitted Records, available at: <http://www.restitucija.gov.rs/evidencija.php>

‡‡ According to UNSCR 1244/99 (‘This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNHCR 1244 and ICJ Advisory opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence’).

§§ Available at: <http://www.geosrbija.rs/>

*** Available at: <http://www.rgz.gov.rs/template1.asp?PageName=2014_03_28_03>

††† Pursuant to the Law on Public Property (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia no. 72/2011, 88/2013): Public property is comprised of movable and immovable property owned by the government, autonomous provinces and units of local self-government.

‡‡‡ According to the Strategy of Agriculture and Rural Development (2014–2024) (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia no. 85/14).

§§§ According to the Law on Agricultural Land (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia no. 62/2006, 65/2008, 41/2009).

**** According to the Law on Registration and Recording of Confiscated Property (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia no. 45/05, 72/2011).

†††† According to Law on Agricultural Land (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia no. 62/2006, 65/2008, 41/2009).