What is the CRPC?

Established in March 1996 under Annex 7 of the Dayton Peace Agreement, the Commission for Real Property Claims of Displaced Persons and Refugees (CRPC) is responsible for confirming real property rights for displaced persons and refugees. The CRPC is authorized to receive and decide claims for real property in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) when the claimant does not presently have possession of the property and the property has not been voluntarily sold or transferred since April 1, 1992. The CRPC has the authority to make final and legally binding decisions on claims for real property and for occupancy rights. These decisions must be respected in both entities of BiH.

CRPC consists of three international and six national members. The three international Commissioners are appointed by the President of the European Court of Human Rights. Of the six national Commissioners, four are appointed by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and two by the Republika Srpska. CRPC has approximately 320 staff working in the Executive Office in Sarajevo and in a network of regional offices. In BiH CRPC has offices in Sarajevo, Mostar, Brcko, Banja Luka, Tuzla, and Bihac. In Yugoslavia CRPC works out of Belgrade, Novi Sad and Pozega. In Croatia, claims can be filed in Zagreb and Slavonski Brod. CRPC staff also work in mobile outreach teams to reach more isolated areas.