World Jewish Restitution Organization

Rejecting compensation allows the National Railway Company of Belgium to “dilute and evade the necessity of taking any current action,” said the World Jewish Restitution Organization.

Majority of countries have made no progress on Holocaust art restitution over the last quarter century.

More than 100,000 items have not been returned to their rightful owners.

Legislation introduced in November by Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė will provide €37 million ($11.36 million) as symbolic compensation for private property expropriated during the Holocaust, and will address heirless Jewish property.

The World Jewish Restitution Organization applauds new legislation that would provide over $37 million as symbolic compensation to private claimants with respect to heirless Jewish property.

For months, the bill was condemned by the international community, which saw it as another attempt to wipe out responsibility to restore the property confiscated from its Jewish community during the years of World War II and the Holocaust.

“I think that it’s sad that in 2021, Poland, instead of moving forward to try to address its history, is moving backwards to try to extinguish what limited rights people have,” said Gideon Taylor, chair of operations for the World Jewish Restitution Organization.

Survivors are to receive $16,700 from Nederlandse Spoorwegen, while surviving spouses are to receive $8,400, the company announces.

For the first time, the European Union has called on Bosnia and Herzegovina to address restitution of property that was seized during the Holocaust, a condition to being considered for E.U. membership.

The parliament calls on the country “to ensure the right to property; points out the lack of a comprehensive legislative framework on handling restitution claims and encourages the authorities to open a dialogue with interested parties on issues pertaining to the restitution of, or compensation for, seized property.”