Processing the case-files [5/03/2007]
Once the form has been received at the Commission head office, the administrative unit makes sure it contains sufficient information to enable investigations to proceed. If necessary, claimants may be asked to provide additional information.
The case file is then forwarded to the research co-ordination departments:
For material spoliations, to the Investigation Control Network, which co-ordinates searches among the various different archive departments depending on the spoliations described in the questionnaire: national archives, Paris archives, Berlin archives, the Caisse des dépôts et Consignations (CDC) the State-owned bank handling official deposits, etc.
For bank-related spoliations, to the bank-related archival search team which searches the “Banks” CD-ROM comprising datafiles on frozen accounts directly.
After obtaining the search results, the case file is handed to a rapporteur. He collates the information provided and observations made by claimants and prepares a report for the Deliberating Panel. This report sets out the circumstances, nature and estimated value of the spoliation, and incorporates a proposed compensation figure.
The rapporteur submits the case files to the Commission (or the Deliberating Panel either in restricted formation (3 members) or in plenary session (all the members, i.e., 10 people). This Commission meets in private and proceedings are not open to the general public.
Claimants are invited to attend, if they wish, or they may be represented.
N.B.: for the sake of processing claims rapidly, where files on bank-related and material spoliations present no particular difficulty they may be examined by the Chairman of the CIVS sitting as a single judge.
The Deliberating Panel makes a recommendation forwarded to the Prime Minister’s office for decision and release for payment.
If the recommendation relates to bank-related spoliations, this is sent to the United Jewish Welfare Fund (Fonds social juif unifié = FSJU), which is the body charged with managing the file.
The Telephone Contact and Information Unit, which can be contacted at (+33) 01 56 52 85 48, handles queries of a general nature and informs claimants on how their file is being progressed.
For more information, consult the FAQs
