Become a Member
World

Fury as Poland suspends Holocaust payments

March 17, 2011 12:16
1 min read

The decision by the Polish government to suspend the legislation to compensate former property owners, whose assets were confiscated during the Second World World War and the Communist period, has caused outrage among world Jewish leaders.

In a statement by the Treasury Ministry in Warsaw last week, the Polish government declared the suspension of a bill on compensation payments for nationalised property, due to the current economic crisis in Poland.

According to the statement, the compensation payouts "could make Poland exceed the public debt ceiling", a condition stipulated by the European Union for countries which wish to join the eurozone. The Polish government announced 2015 as its goal to join the eurozone.

In a speech on Friday in Brussels, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said: "Poland can't afford now to accept the restitution law, due to our economic situation."