Laws:

Printer Friendly Format

Title  
Royal Decree, 6 July 1997, Services of the Prime Minister

Date
6 July 1997

Summary 
The Decree provides for the founding of a Study Commission into the fate of the Belgian Jewish Community's assets, which were plundered or surrendered or abandoned during the war 1940-1945.

Law 
Royal Decree, 6 July 1997, Services of the Prime Minister

Founding of a Study Commission into the fate of the Belgian Jewish Community's assets, which were plundered or surrendered or abandoned during the war 1940-1945 (Moniteur Belge 12 July 1997 ) as adapted by the Royal Decree of October 28, 1997.

Article 1. A Study Commission, to be at the services of the Prime Minister, is being founded to investigate the fate of the Belgian Jewish Community's assets, which were appropriated, lost or abandoned during the Second World War. It will be referred to as "The Study Commission on Jewish Assets". Its aim is to clarify the fate of the abandoned property and to give a full report of this to the Government within two years. An intermediate report will be issued within six months. The Study Commission can extend its work for a further two years should this be necessary.

Article 2. The Study Commission consists out of 13 members, appointed by the Prime Minister: one president; five high civil servants, representing the departments of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development, Finance, Economic and Social Affairs, Public Health and Environment (Service of War Victims); one Emeritus Magistrate; two historians; four representatives of Jewish organisations in Belgium.
The members are appointed for the duration of the Commission's work.

Article 3. The secretariat of the Study Commission will be supplied by the Prime Minister, or, if necessary, by other members of the Government. The operation costs will be met by the budget of the Prime Minister. The members and experts consulted have the right to travel and living expenses.

Article 4. The Study Commission should draw up its working regulations for the Prime Minister's approval within one month of its foundation. The Commission can invite the advice of any expert, and request any study necessary for its work. The members and experts are bound to confidentiality with regard to information gained within the activities of the Study Commission. The Study Commission can, through its President, demand information or documents necessary for her mission from all public services or financial institutions.

Source  
Buysse Commission website, <www.combuysse.fgov.be/> accessed 27 November 2002

Back to top