Serbia’s opposition party, the New Democratic Party of Serbia (Novi DSS), has criticized the government’s proposed law to legalize commercial buildings, calling it a “reward for tycoons” aligned with the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
In a statement, Novi DSS demanded that high-rise buildings, shopping centers, and commercial complexes be excluded from the law to prevent “enormous profits for tycoons and investors close to the regime” who have allegedly constructed these properties illegally.
The proposed legislation, titled “Finally, One’s Own”, promises legalization of most structures for as little as €100 within 60 days. Novi DSS warned the law carries significant risks.
“The proposal applies the same conditions to family homes and auxiliary buildings as to high-rises, shopping centers, and commercial complexes, except that fees for commercial properties are calculated per square meter rather than per building,” the party said.
Novi DSS argued that this creates opportunities for large investors and major capitalists to be effectively rewarded for years of illegal construction and urban disruption, not only in the capital but also in other cities, while ordinary citizens receive only symbolic recognition.
The party also said the outgoing SNS-led government aims to legalize multi-million-euro businesses tied to regime-friendly tycoons.
Another concern raised by Novi DSS is that the law allows registration of properties in the cadaster without thorough verification of technical and urban standards.
“This means ownership could be recognized over buildings that are neither safe nor integrated into urban infrastructure, posing long-term risks to quality of life,” the statement said, citing Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s remark that “the state is not responsible for technical compliance but for registering property rights.”
The party added that current legislation prevents obtaining full property rights without an occupancy permit, a requirement the proposed law would effectively bypass.