Ban on land sale in border zone of 10 kilometers - Government of Serbia adopts three amendments to Law on Agricultural Land

Foreign citizens from the EU countries will not be able to buy agricultural land in Serbia in a zone of 10 km from the border, it was specified by the amendment of the president of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture Marijan Risticevic, which was accepted by the Government of Serbia.

Another amendment proposed by Risticevic, which the Government also adopted, implies that the law will become effective the day following its publication in the Official Gazette, and not on the eighth day as it was originally proposed. Adopted amendment envisages that the law will come into force as of September 1.

The Agriculture Committee has considered today 47 amendments submitted for amendments to the Law on Agricultural Land, two made by Risticevic were accepted and one by the Agriculture Committee, while others were rejected.

Today, the Assembly of Serbia will, continuing a special session, consider amendments submitted for change of the law which will limit land purchase for citizens from EU countries.

Changes and amendments to that law should prevent complete liberalization of agricultural land transactions, since it was envisaged that provisions of the Stabilization and Joining Agreement, which equate the rights of the citizens of Serbia and the EU in the purchase of agricultural land, should begin September 1.

Proposed amendments to the law envisage conditions for sale of agricultural land in private ownership. In order for a foreigner to buy land, he or she must have at least 10 years of residence in Serbia, that is, in a unit of local self-government where he or she wants to buy land, he or she must have registered agricultural households, machines and equipment to perform agricultural production.

Accepted amendment specifies that agricultural land in a private property located at a distance of 10 kilometres from the border cannot be a subject of sale. Also, a foreign citizen from EU country may acquire a maximum of two hectares of agricultural land in private land.

As planned, provisions of proposed amendments to the law shall not apply in case of property restitution carried out in line with the laws governing restitution of seized property to former owners.

The Republic of Serbia has the right to purchase privately owned agricultural land.

Vlada Republike Srbije

VSerbian Agriculture Committee

Serbian Agriculture Committee

Law on Agricultural Land

amendments to the Law on Agricultural Land

agricultural land

sale of agricultural land in Serbia

sale of agricultural land to foreigners

sale of land to foreigners

sales of arable land

arable land

Marijan Risticevic Stabilization and Joining agreement