EXCLUSIVE: Supreme Court To Decide The Fate Of The Bucharest Library

The building is German property as it was commandeered as war debts.

The library opened on June 8, 1838 as the first public library in Bucharest. It currently holds over 1.2 million books.

The library lacks space especially as in the last two years several buildings used by the library were returned to their former owners. For the same reason, ten of the institution’s units halted activity.

The library’s headquarters was rehabilitated in 2002-2005 and the Bucharest Mayoralty spent some EUR1 million on the project.

However, works were halted within months, as the building was claimed by its German owners.

However, the owners sold their property rights to someone else who continued to fight in court for rights over the building. Nonetheless, the Bucharest Court ruled on May 24, 2004 that the claim is inadmissible and rejected it.

 Displeased, the new owners appealed the decision. In September 2006, the Bucharest Court of Appeals partially admitted their claim. The file ended up at the Supreme Court, which is to give a final irrevocable ruling.

The Bucharest mayoralty said that if the new owners win the trial, it wishes to buy the building from them.

If you liked this story, please follow MEDIAFAX.RO on FACEBOOK »

The content of mediafax.ro is for your information only. Republishing or using this content is forbidden without express consent of MEDIAFAX. For this consent, please ask for it by mail at vanzari@mediafax.ro.