Ten years ago, the Serbian government, led by then Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, adopted a Law on Legalisation, which was billed as the ultimate solution to all the problems of construction without permits that have dogged Serbia for decades. 

However, instead of resolving the issue and putting an end to illegal construction, millions of new illegal builds sprang up, as confirmed by Vucic himself, who now, as president, is announcing a fresh push to solve the problem.

Vucic announced the new legislation on legalisation on Sunday. “I believe you will all be happy when you hear what we are proposing and what we are offering,” Vucic said, adding that the law is titled “Finally, one’s own on one’s own land” (Konačno svoj na svome).