Romania - January 2025

On 7 January, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) announced its decision regarding compensation for damage resulting from the failure of the Romanian state to enforce the restitution of property nationalised by the communist regime between 1945 and 1989. In 2022, the ECHR ruled that Romania violated the rights of 53 Romanian applicants to the protection of property. These applicants had obtained judgments in their favour from domestic courts, either granting them possession of their property or compensation, which were subsequently not adequately enforced. Following the 2022 judgment, the parties failed to reach a settlement. With this decision, the ECHR gives the Romanian government three months to pay immediate compensation, and a time limit of 12 months for the execution of judgments in cases concerning restitution of property.  

Sources: ECHR (1), ECHR (2), Juridice (1), Juridice (2), Council of Europe