EU regrets Gazivode demolitions amid ongoing legal cases

The European Commission has voiced regret over recent demolitions at Gazivode Lake, emphasizing that enforcement actions should not proceed while legal challenges are still active. An EU official told N1 that any measure with irreversible consequences requires adherence to due legal process. Affected individuals must have effective means to seek legal and, if applicable, temporary judicial protection before such measures are implemented.

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Every enforcement measure which has irreversible consequences should be carried out respecting the due legal process. Affected persons should be afforded with effective possibility to seek legal remedy and, where applicable, interim judicial protection before the measure is implemented.

The EU is closely observing the developments around Gazivode Lake and maintaining contact with the responsible authorities. N1 sought the Commission's comment following the demolition of several Serbian-owned structures at the lake, including the "Jezero" hotel. The hotel's demolition, carried out with the presence of Kosovo police, EULEX, and KFOR, prompted the owner's family to file a criminal complaint against the director of the "Ibar-Lepenac" public company. A civil case was also initiated, seeking a court order to prevent demolition or alteration of the existing state until the property dispute is resolved.

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The EU is monitoring the developments around Gazivode Lake and is in contact with the relevant authorities.

Public enterprise "Ibar-Lepenac" denied demolishing the hotel in court on August 12, claiming they were merely seeking "liberation" of property they assert is theirs. The court hearing occurred nearly two weeks after the structure, for which the owner sought legal protection, had already been destroyed.

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We were only seeking 'liberation' of the property that we claim is ours.